eTPL 2011

In our continuing effort to publish landmark articles of fulfilled prophecies, this month's offerings include four items of critical interest and verifiable record. When we understand that events have been fulfilled they then become part of history and may easily be fitted into the overall scheme of prophetic patterns. As fulfilled prophecies they add strength to our faith - and no longer present problems of interpretation to us which could confuse our further understanding of what our Father intends.

The Time of Jacob’s Trouble

June 2011

By the late Graham Bacon, New South Wales, Australia

The phrase “the time of Jacob’s trouble” occurs only once in the Bible, and that is in Jeremiah 30:7. The context in which the phrase occurs concerns events immediately prior to the restoration of the nation of Israel (“Jacob” being one of a number of terms used in a general sense referring to Israel). The sequence of the events, Jacob’s trouble before the restoration, is established from the terms which Jeremiah uses in the 30^th chapter.

Another phrase immediately preceding “the time of Jacob’s trouble” is: Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it. There is one very much like it in Daniel 12:1. That phrase is there shall be a time of trouble such as never was with reference to your people. Daniel’s people were the Jews. The timing in Daniel is prior to the resurrection at the return of Jesus Christ to the earth. Daniel’s national people now [today] are Israel, the Jewish nation. The Daniel context is that found in the last verses of Daniel chapter 11 which we will shortly demonstrate, refers to the expulsion of Turkey from the Holy Land during World War I.

There is a correspondence of the timing of “the time of Jacob’s trouble,” before the restoration of Israel, and that of a time of trouble such as never was after WW1. The period in which both these circumstances occurred is a simple calculation – between 1917 (the expulsion of Turkey) and 1948 (the establishment of the state of Israel).

In this period occurs the time of Jacob’s trouble.

It now becomes a matter of examining the Jewish record between these years to identify the historical happenings that correspond to the character of events depicted by these phrases.

We will find ample corroboration.

Except for David and Solomon’s reign, has there ever been a time when “Jacob” has not been in trouble? So “the time of Jacob’s trouble” could be almost any time. But no, not Jeremiah’s reference, for his time of trouble is a special one.

The Lord told Jeremiah to write a book. This would be the subject, For behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, that I will bring back from captivity My people Israel and Judah, says the Lord. And I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it: Jeremiah 30:3. The context is a return from exile. But this return from exile will be preceded by an unparalleled time of trouble. The national pain involved in return from exile is likened to childbirth. Why do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labor and all faces turned pale? (v.6). The birth Jeremiah is referring to is the birth of the modern State of Israel; but that process will involve great pain and trouble.

Jeremiah goes on to reveal that the pain and trouble will be unprecedented. [1] Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. For it shall come to pass in that day, says the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from your neck, and will burst your bonds – Jeremiah 30:7-8. The prophecy envisages the Jews in exile, under oppression and persecution that the Lord would terminate.

For behold, I will save you from afar, verse 10. This place of oppression and persecution was to be far off, a fact elaborated by Jeremiah 31:8, Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the ends of the earth. This was to be no local scattering and re-gathering. It sounds exactly like the migrating millions of the twentieth century, those who came from the ends of the earth.

Jeremiah 30:11 adds yet more detail that associates with long periods of time, such as the 1878 years of exile from AD70. For I am with you, says the Lord, to save you; though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, yet I will not make a complete end of you. But I will correct you in justice. In the 1878 years, from AD70 to 1948, God did make a complete end of some nations but left a remnant of Jews to return.

There is a sequence in verses 7-11 to be observed. The NIV renders verse 7, How awful that day will be. None will be like it. The long period of persecution and oppression in exile was a constant feature of their exile. The breaking of the yokes on Jews and the bursting of the bonds “in that day” will be “awful.” This terrible time will be unprecedented. By far the most unprecedented calamity to befall the Jews was the Holocaust from 1939 to 1945. Six million killed! There was nothing like it before, and it cannot happen again [in Israel] without the nation disappearing. This simply will not happen. Jeremiah has to be referring to the catastrophic events of the twentieth century.

Such a disaster to the Jewish people, more calamitous than the Holocaust, cannot occur statistically in Israel in the foreseeable future. A huge calamity in Israel, outweighing the Holocaust, is numerically impossible. Out of nine million European Jews, six million were killed (see Zechariah 13:8). The current situation in Israel simply does not allow for such numbers. Therefore the time of Jacob’s trouble with none ... like it has to be the Holocaust.

The reference in Daniel 12:1, there shall be a time of trouble such as never was, provides another clue to the sequencing and timing. This reference occurs immediately after the description of the expulsion of the “king of the north.” This “king...” can be identified as Turkey, the sixth and last empire to occupy the Holy Land before modern Israel was proclaimed (Britain held a temporary League of Nations Mandate).

At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels. But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him. At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation. (Daniel 11:40-12:1)

This passage describes the expansion of the Turkish Empire that entered the “Glorious Land” (or the Holy Land) and many other lands including Egypt, from around 1660 to 1917. But the area east of the Jordan escaped the Turk’s attention. There were Turkish administration centers in Damascus and Jerusalem but none in Edom, Moab or Ammon. No major battle to eject the Turks east of Jordan occurred. There were no Turkish forces there. All major battles were fought against the Turks on the coastal plain.

The Turks stripped Egypt of nearly all of its wealth. Five hundred of the wealthiest Egyptian families were forced to migrate to Turkey bringing all their valuables with them. When Egypt gained a measure of independence from Turkey around the 1850’s, she was so broke that she was forced to sell the Suez Canal to Britain for four million pounds sterling. This was to pay interest on her crippling debts, brought about by Turkey’s plundering of Egyptian wealth, assisted by Libya and Ethiopia. With Russia threatening Turkey’s capital in the north, British and Australian forces in the Middle East drove the Turks from the Holy Land and it was free for the first time since AD70. WW1 freed the land.

After the prophecy of Turkey being driven from the Holy Land in Daniel 11:40-45, the [Arch]angel Michael then stands up for Israel (12:1), but not without a time of trouble such as never was. It was Michael’s job to organize circumstances such that the Jews would return to their land, but they would not go willingly. Jeremiah’s prophecy is marvelous. Behold, I will send for many fishermen, says the Lord and they shall fish them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks (Jeremiah 16:16). God sent Lord Shaftesbury, Lord Palmerston, Theodor Herzl, Lord Balfour and the Rothschilds to “fish” the Jews back to the land without much success. Then God sent Hitler and the Nazis who “hunted” the remnant back. This was the unprecedented “time of Jacob’s trouble.”

Jacob’s problems are not over yet; but there is no credible evidence that Israel will be dispossessed of its land again. There were only four metals in Daniel’s metal man, representing only four peoples who would dispossess the Jews - Babylon, Medo/Persia, Greece and Rome in her multiple manifestations.

The unprecedented “time of Jacob’s trouble” is past and no one will dispossess the Jews again.

[End of article by the late Graham Bacon of NSW, Australia]

I know that Graham Bacon would not have minded my reproducing his article in full, and I thank him for these logical, scriptural considerations of Israel’s present predicament and God’s plan to save Israel out of it. Yes, the Nazi Holocaust WAS “the time of Jacob’s trouble,” and is now a horrible episode of the past! There is NO INDICATION that Israel is to be further humbled nor made ashamed by any heathen nation, for millions of her dispersed ones have obediently returned to their Land in preparation for their redemption – and perhaps unknowingly, for His Kingdom to be established upon their mountains!

The Almighty One has proclaimed that this re-gathering of His people is not an opportunity to shame His people again, thus bringing disrepute upon His own holy name! Instead, says He, I will set Mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again (Isaiah 11:11,12) to this land: and I will build them, and NOT pull them down; and I will plant them, and NOT pluck them up. And I will give them an heart to know Me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be My People, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto Me with their whole heart.

Please note the distinctive implications of this language:this entire process is obviously voluntary, and on their own initiative. They are not forcibly brought there by Christ in a perceptible manner! It would be not only possible for them to return, as we have witnessed, but also expedient for them to do so. It may yet require a bit of time, but has been in progress, really, for over an hundred years, and with extreme vigor since May, 1948, when the Jewish Agency of the World Zionist Organization (its task clearly stated in Isaiah 66:7, 8) opened the floodgates of the State of Israel to their tattered remnant – an ancient but new Homeland for their brethren.

At that time the Almighty ceased forsaking[2] His people in Diaspora, as He promised He would, and began with great speed and efficiency to bring them to their eternal Homeland. Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion, for the time to favor her – yea, the SET TIME – is come! (Psalm 102:13) This could occur ONLY ONCE, and it wasn’t fulfilled at the return of His people from the Babylonian captivity. It IS occurring, however, upon their return from “the four corners of the earth” (Isaiah 11:12) – their second great Aliyah.

We therefore must not suppose that another catastrophe surpassing even the Holocaust shall befall God’s people. His return to exercise MERCY upon his returned people of Israel is rapidly approaching – not a time to bring reproach upon His holy name and purpose! <HEL MD/USA January 2003>

The Tribulation of Those Days

In Matthew’s account of the Jesus’ Olivet Prophecy there are myriads of succinct, totally relevant details about the End-time, but a critical study of the text raises many questions in the mind of the student. Is it written in the chronological order of its prophesied events? To what time period do specific sections apply? Where does the account of the End-time begin?

I refer, of course, to Matthew 24. Jesus relates the narrative beginning in verse 4, where Jesus answered and said unto them … His ‘answer’ is in process of being given to the three questions asked of him by the disciples in verse 3.

The first portion obviously refers to the dreadful events of 70 AD, in which comes the end of the unfaithful, unrepentant citizens of the Commonwealth of Judea. After warning of false Christs who should come, and of the rising of many false prophets, He speaks of the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet – verse 15 – and warns of the dire consequences to the unwary at that time.

The narrative seems to move into the succeeding centuries as he approaches verse 21, where he quotes Daniel 12:1, saying, then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. As the previous article by Graham Bacon proved, this reference was specifically to the Nazi Holocaust of 1933-1945, and the exhausting, savage persecution of the Jews of Europe at that time.

The next verse reflects a protracted continuation of similar horrors and dangers, leading to claims of people to be Messiah, and false ‘miracles.’ This is yet another expression of that spirit of Antichrist – the numerous claims of ‘the church‘ as having witnessed miracles and wonders, such as those attributed by them to the site at Lourdes, to the Shroud of Turin, and many other ‘miracles’ in the name of Christ supposedly performed by immortal ‘saints’ dwelling in heaven. The trials of the true saints of God are, during that time, both physical and spiritual. Both threaten to take their promised (eternal) life, if believers succumb to them.

And then, in verse 29, He speaks of the (continuing) tribulation of those days in dire terms. It shall be the tribulation of the times immediately prior to His appearance, when the fervent desire of His people shall be as expressed by Isaiah 64:1 et seq: Oh that Thou wouldest rend the heavens, that Thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at Thy presence, as when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make Thy name known to Thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Thy presence! When Thou didst terrible (in the sense of spectacular) things which we looked not for, Thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at Thy presence. For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside Thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him.

The apostle quotes that passage in I Corinthians 2:9: But as it is written, ‘Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. Then he clarifies that statement in the next verse, revealing But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit, for the Spirit searcheth ALL things, yea, the DEEP THINGS of God.’

We are now in that time frame, just prior to His coming. God’s people are surely yearning for deliverance from their continuing, impossible exposure to terrorism and war. The great majority of the people of the world are here clearly revealed as NOT aware of what is coming upon them. That would not be the case if ‘the church’ were proclaiming TRUTH. If ‘the church’ really believed and taught its adherents what the word of God actually says about what is now coming quickly, their flock would be adequately warned, and prepared for those eventualities! But they are not! – and unfortunately shall not be!

In this day, the Almighty teaches us in one certain way, and it isn’t by direct revelation, or blatant miracles; it is by our consistent, prayerful, protracted consideration of HIS SPIRIT-WORD. He told us clearly in John 6:63, that It is the Spirit that quickeneth (giveth life); the flesh profiteth nothing: the WORDS that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are LIFE. It is therefore by HIS WORDS that we live or perish in the final day. If we heed them NOW, they place us in a good position then!

Our responsibility, then, is faithfully to apply ourselves to the Word and the Promises of Yahweh, from Whose hand our considerable spiritual advantages are poured forth, For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come, in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man – unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:12, 13) <HEL MD/USA May, 2011>

Jerusalem

Charles French, Secretary G. P. L., Epping, N. S. W., Australia

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. (Psalms 137- 5,6)

The words of our title [text] reflect the longstanding ardour in the heart of most Jews toward the city of Jerusalem. The words of the psalmist in captivity in Babylon embody the fervour of Jewry for the city, and especially the temple there. This, beyond all else, was the focal point for Jewish identity as God’s people, for here was His footstool and His rest, of which He said, This is My rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it … There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed; His enemies will I clothe with shame, but upon Himself shall His crown flourish. (Psalm 132: 14-18)

The lament of Jesus, from which our title [text] comes, anticipated Jerusalem’s fall, which came about because of the refusal of most of the nation to heed his call to repentance: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold your house is left unto you desolate. (Matthew 23:37, 38)

For the faithful, as well as those who simply had nationalistic fervour for the city and the temple, the fulfillment of Jesus’ words was a disaster. Having cleansed the temple shortly before His arrest, He said to the Jews, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? But ye have made it a den of thieves. (Mark 11: 17) This failure of the nation, especially the rulers, resulted in the destruction of the temple. It also commenced the desolation of Jerusalem and its loss to Jewry, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Their house indeed was left unto them desolate, but the time will soon be upon us when the city of a new and repentant generation of Jewry will say, “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. (Matthew 23: 39) #

Sieges and Conquests of Jerusalem

Compilation by Eric Marshall, The Testimony, July, 1990

c. 1375 BC Judah takes Jerusalem and destroys it by fire (Judges 1:8)

1004 BC David captures the Jebusite hill fort. (2 Samuel 5:7)

925 BC Pharaoh Shishak takes Jerusalem in Rehoboam’s 5^th year (2 Chronicles)

c. 790 BC Joash of Israel defeats Amaziah of Judah and takes the city. (2 Kings 14:13-14)

c. 735 BC Rezin of Syria and Pekah of Israel besiege Jerusalem in the days of Ahaz. (2 Kings 16:5)

701 BC Sennacherib’s failed attempt to capture Jerusalem (2 Kings 18)

597 BC Nebuchadnezzar captures Jerusalem taking Jehoiachin captive. (2 Kings 24:12)

587 BC Nebuchanezzar captures Jerusalem, and destroys it. (2 Kings 25)

301 BC Ptolemy 1, Alexander the Great’s general and the ‘king’ of Daniel 11:5 take Jerusalem.

198 BC Antiochus 3 captures Jerusalem as king of the north. (Dan 11:13-16)

141 BC Simon Maccabee captures Jerusalem from the Seleucids.

63 BC The Roman general Pompey takes Jerusalem from the Hasmoneans.

40 BC Hasmoneans retake the city in civil war after Julius Caesar’s death.

37 BC Herod the Great takes the city with Roman help.

AD 70 Jerusalem falls to the armies of the Roman general Titus. (Matt 24)

AD 132 Simon bar Kochba takes Jerusalem from the Romans.

AD 135 Jerusalem is recaptured by the Romans.

AD 614 Persians conquer Jerusalem from Byzantine control.

AD 629 Byzantine Emperor Heraclius retakes the city.

AD 638 Arabs under the Caliph Omar take the city (Revelation 9-1/11)

AD 878 Newly independent Arab kingdom of Egypt takes Jerusalem from the Abbassids ruling from Baghdad

AD 905 Abbassids retake the city.

AD 941 Jerusalem reverts to Egyptian control.

AD 1071 Seljuk Turks capture Jerusalem

AD 1099 Crusaders take Jerusalem.

AD 1187 Muslims retake Jerusalem under Saladin, the Kurd.

AD 1229 Crusaders regain control of Jerusalem.

AD 1244 Turks capture Jerusalem.

AD 1260 Mongols take Jerusalem from Mamluks, who immediately regain it!

AD 1516 The Ottaman Sultan Selim 1 takes Jerusalem (Revelation 9-12/21)

AD 1917 British under General Allenby take Jerusalem from the Ottoman

AD 1948 Jordanian army takes the Old City from the Israelis.

AD 1967 Israel takes the Old City from the Jordanians

AD 1967 Saw the Times of the Gentiles fulfilled. The Lord’s words in Luke 21-24, “Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles , until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled”. Jerusalem is free!

From The Testimony, July, 1990

The Returns to Zion

538 BC 42,360 Jews returned from Babylon and under Joshua and Zerrubbabel

reinstated the worship of God and rebuilt the foundations of the temple in

Jerusalem (Ezra 1,2)

458 BC 1,754 Jews (these were males, so the total number could have been 3 times this number) returned

from Babylon with Ezra. (Ezra 8)

141 BC Jerusalem was recaptured by the Jewish Hasmoneans (Maccabees) from

Antiochus Epiphanes restoring Jewish religious life.

AD 438 Empress Eudocia of the Eastern Roman Empire allowed Jews to return to

Jerusalem, but they were expelled in AD 629.

AD 638 Muslim Arabs conquered Jerusalem and allowed a few Jews to return but were opposed by the

‘Christian’ Patriarch.

AD 1200-1600 While Jews were being persecuted in Europe, small numbers regularly

sought to settle in Jerusalem. For example, Italian Rabbi Obadiah di Berlinosi

made the journey. 1485-1498. By 1700, an estimated 300 Jewish families lived

in Jerusalem.

1843 150 Jews from Algiers settled in Jerusalem. By 1868 the population of Jerusalem was 18,000, half of

which were Jews.

1852 The first Aliyah (return; literally, ascent) or wave of Immigration began, with 7,000 Jews from

Russia reaching Jerusalem (and many others returning to other parts of Palestine), fleeing

persecution.

1904-1914 The Second Aliyah: mostly Jews from East Europe, especially Poland and Rumania. They

numbered about 40,000 and some settled in Jerusalem. David Ben-Gurion (the first Prime Minister of

Israel and Itzak Ben-Zvi, (the second President) were among them.

1920-1929 By 1922 there were almost 34,000 Jews in Jerusalem out of a total of 64,000 inhabitants. By 1939

when further immigration was restricted by the British Government which ruled Palestine, there were

77,000 Jews out of a population of 126,000. In this period the third Aliyah 1918-1925 of Jews from

Russia and Eastern Europe took place. (Golda Meir amongst this group), and the fourth Aliyah from

Germany and Poland took place in 1933-9. (Shimon Peres was amongst this group)

1948 The State of Israel was declared and Jews came from all over the world

1974-1984 -Return of Ethiopian Jews (Falashas). 17,000 entered Israel by massive airlift,

called “Operation Moses.” Many settled in Jerusalem.

1987 to present – Exodus of hundreds of thousands of former Soviet bloc Jews, after the collapse of

Communist rule. Many settled in Jerusalem. Thousands of Jews continue to flood into Israel and

Jerusalem thrives under Jewish rule. However, the Temple mount is denied to Jews, as it has been for

centuries. Muslims sit in the old Holy places and no doubt will perish when the Mount of Olives

splits in two at the Lord’s return and the whole Temple area is demolished.

The Testimony, July, 1996 (Additions in italics)

[1] That is, without parallel, either before or since – Ed.

[2] He “gave them up” (forsook them) UNTIL the time that “she which travaileth hath brought forth: THEN the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the [land of] the children of Israel.” Micah 5:3.

The eProphecy Letter

May, 2011

Future of the Sinai Peninsula?

H. E. Lafferty

Egypt is (almost) never mentioned along with the nations who are depicted in the final conflict of Israel with its proximal Islamic enemies, but there is an exception to this general rule in Joel 3:19 where the prophet writes: Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. 21 For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.

Egypt and Edom are here paired; each shall be desolate. We are clearly informed of the nature of Edom’s desolation. I believe we are also given clues as to that of Egypt – but the two processes are seemingly not the same.

When that final day of settlement comes, Egypt and Assyria shall be rectified with Israel and her God, and unified in a trilogy of glory to Him. Between that time and now, Egypt seems due to suffer much turmoil. Yet, in Psalm 72:8, we are assured that the boundaries of the future Kingdom of God are to stretch from the river unto the ends of the earth.

What river is intended here? Does the prophecy indicate the Nile? Or does it indicate the minor stream called the Brook of Egypt to the east of Suez, of which many are not even aware? Either one seems to fill the requirements of the prophecy but the Brook of Egypt does not include the Sinai Peninsula. Many early commentators regarded “the river of Egypt” in Genesis 15 as an eastern branch of the Nile which no longer exists. If that is so, the border does include the Sinai Peninsula. This is entirely logical, for who would ever believe “the river of Egypt” to be any river except the Nile?

Several bits of information are helpful in establishing the facts as well as we can determine them.

First is the firm title deed to Abraham’s inheritance outlined in Genesis 15:18: In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.

Moses relates, beginning in Deuteronomy 1:6 - The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount: 7 Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates. This description certainly seems to include the vast wilderness of the Sinai Peninsula, although “the south” in the text could indicate The Negev. It certainly extends northward to the great river Euphrates.

However, we believe “the river” of Psalm 72 is the Nile: the “river of Egypt.” In II Kings 24:7, we learn that Babylon took away from the king of Egypt all that pertained to the king of Egypt ... from the river of Egypt unto the River Euphrates. Nebuchadnezzar did conquer Egypt, taking control of the Nile – the river of Egypt, its significant heartland. On the other hand, all Egypt’s territories adjacent to the Brook of Egypt includes almost none of the heartland – the significant portion – of Egypt!

Prior to the reign of Jehoiakim the king of Egypt had extended his hegemony through the land all the way north to the Euphrates River, although he did not acquire Judah for his own possession (he merely controlled it). This is recorded in II Kings 23:29 as having happened during the reign of Josiah, on the occasion in which Pharaohnechoh slew Josiah.

But when Nebuchadnezzar invaded, he took all these lands for his own possession, including Judah of course, down to the river of Egypt, which we are assured to be the Nile; in other words, the capital areas of the country.

In depictions of the cantons of the future kingdom, we are mostly familiar with the chart which shows the southern canton to border along the western shore of the Sinai Peninsula – just beyond the Suez Canal. The most definite of these is the study done by Major Scott Phillips of the British army, outlined in a presentation to the Edinburgh Chapter of The Royal Society in the mid-1800s. This well-documented study may be found in A. H. Boulton’s The Apocalypse and History.

Therefore, we now come to the consideration of the opening statement concerning Egypt’s future, and secondarily that of the Sinai.

We feel that, since the Sinai Peninsula shall be included in the primary boundaries of Israel of the future, and knowing that Egypt, though seeming to have no further “hot” conflicts with Israel, yet shall be “a desolation;” what may we deduct from this? Something or someone or some despot is perhaps the reason why Egypt seems to drop out of the picture, yet be “desolate.” Yet, its destiny is almost certainly not the same as the devastation held in store for Edom (the “Palestinians” as per Obadiah).

A current news item may lend light on the subject. Debkafile reported on March 18, 2011, some interesting information. Its headline is: ”Hamas hired to help smuggle arms, train Brotherhood militias,” and gives this account:

The Sinai setup is ... more precarious. Egypt's military rulers have lost control of the vast, mountainous interior of the strategic peninsula, retaining only toeholds in narrow strips along the Mediterranean coast in the west, the Gulf of Aqaba shore in the east and the Sharm el Sheikh pocket. Field Marshall Mohammed Tantawi and Chief of Staff Gen. Sami Anan admitted as much to Obama administration officials before US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Cairo Wednesday, March 16.

Sinai inland [the Sinai Peninsula] has been commandeered by three lawless elements:

· Hamas special forces pouring across the border from the Gaza Strip;

· thousands of the prisoners who broke out of Egyptian jails in early January, most of them Muslim Brotherhood activists;

· and thousands more of indigenous Bedouin felons who escaped Egyptian prisons at the same time.

Heads of the Supreme Military Council in Cairo also admitted that new militias were being whipped up in the rugged strongholds of Sinai under Hamas military instructors.

According to our sources, Tehran timed the voyage of the German Liberian-flagged ship A.S. Victoria with a large arms cargo aboard with an eye on Clinton's arrival in Cairo.

The Iranians wanted to show Washington, Jerusalem and Cairo that they would not be stopped from doing what they wanted. Just as no one could prevent the two Iranian warships from passing through the Suez Canal for the first time in 30 years on Feb. 22 and reaching Syria's Mediterranean port of Latakia, so too they would not stop the arms shipment carried by one of those warships, the Kharg, being delivered from Latakia to any destination Tehran chose. In this case, Tehran had decided to deliver arms to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Teheran's current pet protégé. After the first part of their plan sailed through without a hitch, the Iranians did not reckon on the ship's interception by Israeli commandos 320 kilometers west of the Sinai coast Tuesday, March 15. ###

Note that of the three groups above, Hamas is most prominent. Hamas IS the Moslem Brotherhood,which gave birth to Hamas earlier. All three groups of renegades are of a cloth and shall finally band tightly together for the most egregious mischief they can achieve. They are akin to the Bedouin population of the Negev, further to the north, and may seek to band together with them – for both are enemies of Israel. And remember, too, that Amalek – which lay in the northern Sinai and the Negev area – has been at constant war with Israel and her God. These I believe shall be conquered as part of the military action of Obadiah’s prophecy ("they of the south" – Obadiah, v. 19).

As we have recently pointed out, Isaiah 19 gives crucial Endtime information about Egypt, telling us clearly that Egypt shall suffer a civil war then fall under a great “oppressor” and a “cruel lord.” The above account may indicate the beginning of this process. If so, the Moslem Brotherhood, or Hamas shall be in control of Egypt, and lawless Bedouins shall be in control of the Sinai Peninsula. However, the Sinai is a huge, arid, forbidding expanse of desert, and does not easily tolerate life. If Egypt indeed does fall under the aegis of the Moslem Brotherhood, it may be that it will later simply cede the Sinai to Israel without much of a fight even prior to being sent “a Saviour” as in Isaiah 19. We shall have to wait to see how this prophecy fulfills.

If this happens, it logically should do so at the appearance of Messiah and His legions of Immortal Associates, especially in light of the further account of the destiny of Egypt in that chapter – that Egypt shall be sent a Saviour, and be liberated and converted to the way of the Lord – and eventually be incorporated along with Israel and Assyria in the First Dominion of the Lord (Isaiah 19:25; Micah 4:8).

This scenario could explain exactly HOW the Sinai seems to come into Israeli possession without any seeming conflict – at least not any detectable action addressed by the prophets.

In any case, once redeemed, the trackless, largely now-useless wastes of the Sinai shall receive their share of the “early and the latter rains” (Hosea 6:3; James 5:7) and shall “blossom as the rose”(Isaiah 35:1) – as shall the Libyan Desert, the Sahara, the Gobi, the High Plains Desert of the American West, the arid Outback of Australia, and the Sonora of Mexico. All these shall flow with abundant springs and rivers of water, and shall bring forth fruits and vegetables – sustenance, shade, flowers and abundant beauty in the kingdom age!

Thus shall the schemes of the Brotherhood, of the Shiites and the Sunnis, of Hamas, of the Ayatollahs, the Emirs and the Mullahs, of Hezbollah, of Syria and Lebanon and Jordan, of the Edomites and the Amalekites be stymied forever! Has Israel any earthly reason for fear in this trying time? Isaiah 35, again, sums up their prospect as Isaiah 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

It is admittedly difficult to determine the exact extent of the Millennial boundaries of the nation of Israel. The map below is extracted from Jim Myers article “Biblical Borders of the Land of Israel” on his website at

http://www.biblicalheritage.org/ and has been modified to reflect the current boundaries.

It illustrates Mr. Myers’ interpretation of the original land grant of Abraham – the land promised to Abraham for an everlasting covenant. This land-distribution is remarkably similar to Major Scott Phillips’ depiction in the book by W. H. Boulton referred to above.

Note that those boundaries encompass an area from just west of Cairo and the Nile all the way up to the Euphrates (the River of Egypt even unto the Euphrates), and along the entire course of that river from its headwaters all the way to the Persian Gulf! There is no specified limitation as to length of the border along the Euphrates; logically the border should really stretch along its entire length! dp Unlike Major Phillips’ depiction it does not include great portions of the Saudi desert; but since these are contiguous territories why should they not be included? However, it is impossible to determine these borders in advance of the fulfillment of the actual presentation of the Land to Abraham and his Seed (including the Redeemed Saints).

<HEL, March 18, 2011>

The eProphecy Letter

May, 2011

The Famous Telescopic Chart of the Apocalypse

H E Lafferty MD/USA

This chart of the Structure of Revelation has been available for years, but recently was reproduced in an on-line publication in the fourth quarter, 2009. Generally it is valid, but there is at least one glaring error in this depiction – one which does NOT agree with the scriptural sequence of events. Can you find the discrepancy??

This schematic view is generally extremely helpful in clarifying and summarizing the events of the Great Trilogy of the Seals, the Trumpets and the Vials. But notice carefully where the “Thunders” are depicted on this diagram – and that they are labeled the Seventh Vial “which contains the Seven Thunders.” They are supposed here to come after “the marriage supper of the Lamb” and to be thefirst events of the Millennium and the arrival of New Jerusalem (Heavenly Jerusalem – Christ and the Glorified Body of Redeemed Ones) whereas our vision is that six of them have preceded this era. The Seven Thunders however, are revealed (and not recorded) in Revelation 10: 3,4, not after Revelation 16; these occur PRIOR to the sounding of the 7^th Trumpet – not as a feature of it! It is not so designated in the chart above. It is therefore seriously flawed and inaccurate!

Now we list below the scriptural sequence given by Jesus to John by revelation.

The Seals, Trumpets and Vials of Revelation Summarized

SEALS: Revelation

6:1 The first seal;

3 The second seal;

5 The third seal;

7 The fourth seal;

9 The fifth seal;

12 The sixth seal;

8:1 The seventh seal.

TRUMPETS: Revelation

8:7 The first trumpet;

8 The second trumpet;

10 The third trumpet;

12 The fourth trumpet;

9: 1 The fifth trumpet – and the FIRST WOE (9: 1 – 11)

9:13 The sixth trumpet – and the SECOND WOE (9: 12)

10: 2, 3 THE SEVEN THUNDERS – UNRECORDED – AT THIS TIME. The Sixth Trumpet emits the Second Woe of Three Woes; that Second Woe brings forth the Seven Thunders. The Seventh Trumpet occurs either simultaneously with the Seventh Thunder or immediately after it, and seemingly at the same time as the Seventh Vial and the Seventh Seal.

11: 15 The seventh trumpet – and the THIRD WOE (11: 15 -> Kingdom!)

VIALS: Revelation

16: 2 - First Vial;

3 Second vial;

4 Third vial;

8 Fourth vial;

10 Fifth vial;

12 Sixth vial;

16:16 THE GATHERING TO ARMAGEDDON

17 Seventh Vial -> Kingdom!

It’s interesting and extremely unusual that the scriptural order of these events was confused (misplaced) by John Thomas in his telescopic view of the Apocalypse.

The appearance is that he didn’t know how to explain the unrecorded thunders as occurring where they are revealed, so he simply decided to place them where they made the most sense to him at the time, and in a place where he could offer a seemingly logical explanation of them. He did not expect the Jewish people to be regathered to the land in any great numbers, or to gather on their own accord and with their own funds despite great difficulty; they were supposed to be regathered by Britain in onlyslight numbers and later be dispersed by the Gogian host. He could not have possibly foreseen that over six million of them would pour into the land under their own power after being completely betrayed by Britain and consistently excluded from the land to the limit of Britain’s ability!

But such difficulty (i.e., not having this impossible foresight) does not give one such license. I humbly submit that our brother should have simply admitted that he didn’t understand what these events could be and leave it to the reader’s discretion, and for the future to reveal. Or, on the other hand, he might have reconsidered his overall view of the affair and realized that his projections for the future were seriously flawed. And let us hasten to admit – we aren’t adamant as to our own view of the Seven Thunders being entirely correct, either. Our comments are merely logical suggestions based on the history we have observed prior to the Second Advent.

Since these were uttered but not recorded, we can only speculate as to their nature and attempt to understand them in light of current affairs. John Thomas could not in his time have possibly expected the coming realities – that Israel should gather into the Land and be required to defend itself time and again – that these conflicts might possibly be our “contemporary” explanation of the Seven Thunders. This would have been because of his realization of the grinding poverty of the Arabs, their terrible insignificance in his time, and the obvious irrelevance of “the Arabs” of his day. His view of them is well illustrated by his description of them as “the freebooters of the desert.” As such there is no possible way they could have caused the returned Jews to be discomfited.

The Arabs of the Middle East are far above and beyond such an insignificant position today. They largely control the one commodity that governs just how well the world conducts its commerce and politics: oil. In the mid-19^th century, oil meant almost nothing in the geopolitics of the day. Indeed, it was precisely in John Thomas’ day that a significant advance in the early developmental history of oil was achieved in Titusville, Pennsylvania: this entry is from Wikipedia – regarding that first viable oil well.

Oil was known to exist here, but there was no practical way to extract it. Generally, its main use to that time had been as a medicine for both animals and humans. In the late 1850s Seneca Oil Company (formerly the Pennsylvania Rock Oil Company) sent Col. Edwin L. Drake, to start drilling on a piece of leased land just south of Titusville near what is now Oil Creek State Park. Drake hired a salt well driller, William A. Smith, in the summer of 1859. They had many difficulties, but on August 27 at the site of an oil spring just south of Titusville, they finally drilled a well that could be commercially successful. #

But the development of the internal combustion engine, which absolutely demanded gasoline – a principal fraction of crude oil – was still about 40 years in the future. The discovery of oil under the vast sands of the Middle East was likewise in the distant future. Today, oil’s importance can hardly be overstated. But its future prominence could not have been apparent to John Thomas or others of his day. And neither were many of the other events/features of the Endtime which were essential to make a better approximation as to the nature of the Seven Thunders as well as sufficient to recognize several other later, important developments which are directly explained by and traceable to the Prophets of Israel. Only the passage of nearly 150 years would afford anyone the opportunity to observe a set of terrible conflicts which reasonably could fill the gap and give significance to the Thunders.

In late 2009, this publication offered what we felt to be a sensible, logical and scriptural explanation of the Seven Thunders. At that time we noted the serious discrepancies of this diagram – its disagreement with the sequence of revelations recorded by John - but commented upon these minimally. And we also stated that our explanation was merely a suggestion; if one didn’t agree with our suppositions then he should simple ignore them.

We suggested that the Seven Thunders may represent the conflicts of modern Israel with her neighbors round about, the last of which we proposed should bring the return of Messiah and His salvation to Israel, and later to the nations of the earth. This seems still to be the most likely nature of the Thunders, as they occur in the era just prior to the Seventh Trumpet.

Now … as to the nature of the conflicts of Christ and the Saints after their Return from the Judgment Bar, we really need have few serious basic questions about the overall features of those activities. The conflicts prophesied to take place in that time are well described by many entries in prophecy. They are not all packaged neatly in two chapters as is the concise Gogian affair (integral to those future times), but are easily assembled by context, and integrated with each other textually. In doing so, one must strictly attend to the named enemies, not assigning some other extraneous identity to them; in so doing he may easily discern how they interact with Israel and each other!

All we have to do (it is an exacting task, but achievable) to perceive these, is look at all the references and consider each of them in their context. The first body of conflicts – those with the Proximal (nearby) Islamic nations – is far more fully described than the two subsequent major conflicts,possibly these revelations being given us in these last days of the Endtime in order to generate faith in us (not despair), in order that we may more perfectly perceive just how this protracted series of conflicts prepares the Islamic states for each one’s fatal destruction, and exactly why they so richly deserve this end! Such understanding would also act to give us courage, and complete faith in the dreadful hallows – the certain consecration – that our Father has immutably established for them.

In addition to these benefits, their revelation is such detail should act to give us a firmer, surer understanding of the events leading up to the physical return of Christ – a time at which the saints of God are to be taken out of mundane circulation and their eternal futures determined by their Judge. In such a case, the latter two conflicts should mean much less to us that the first, triggering event. But the details of the second and third should at the same time be needed to fill out our understanding of the future events leading to the conquest of the earth by Messiah.

Such a benefit would furnish faithful seekers an entirely comprehensible and substantial bridge in the Endtimes from the establishment of the nation of Israel forward in time through exciting and confusing years to the active events of the near future to which most of them surely shall be witness. It would be a superb faith generator, which He indubitably knew we would greatly desire and need in these final days which could otherwise discourage us and give us despair. To us, the vision (its fulfillment) may seem to tarry, as Habakkuk phrased it, but was assured that it should NOT do so in reality (Habakkuk 2:3).

Our careful extrapolation of the capital conflicts and our insight that there should be seven of these, would give us substantial hope that events were progressing as our Father had planned. We all should know that information “intellectually;” but a few have actually lost faith in the process because it has seemingly been so slow; these are said to have turned away from Truth and have gone their own pathetically worldly ways!

Yet, it is possible that the Thunders’ detailed natures were not allowed to be actually recorded by Johnspecifically because they were generally out of character with the pervasive overall message of the Apocalypse – namely, the complex, progressive interaction of the Ecclesia of Christ and the Church of the False Prophet/Harlot, and not principally expounding the Endtime transactions of the returning People of Israel to their Land – quite a different stream of revelation. Otherwise, perhaps their details might genuinely confuse that overall revelation by inexplicably relating in obscure signs this completely different stream of events. That might reasonably seem to be the consideration of the Almighty on our behalf, for He has given these forecasts so that His servants should understand His plan rather than be confused by it, and not be discouraged that things are not moving as swiftly as they desire.

I am aware that there shall again be severe reactions by a few of our contemporaries to this re-stated thesis. My urgent consideration of this is that our scholarship must strive to encourage and assist the saints in HOW to understand, interpret and analyze God’s word, and not dictate to them WHAT to think – most often based on 19^th century projections. Can you imagine falling severely ill with some grave illness and checking into an hospital which dispenses only 19^th century medicine? Can you imagine the Wright brothers establishing an institute of aeronautics at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) today? Or can you visualize General Robert E. Lee organizing a tank battalion in today’s army?

Okay – it’s not REALLY the same analogy I suppose, or a perfect comparison, but the approximation is close enough to illustrate the point. None of these older people or institutions should have been exposed to the magnificent achievements of later years and hundreds of advances which have taken place in every field of endeavor – which are equivalent to mountains of fulfilled prophecy since those earlier days. Their outdated knowledge and techniques would not be nearly as effective as modern ones would; indeed some of them should be destructively retrogressive. Think of using leeches to “bleed” severely ill patients; or a spoonful of kerosene mixed with sugar for gastric pain! Their understanding of the disease processes, the theories of flight, and current specifics of tactical tank warfare would be completely unknown. By current standards their techniques and methods should be completely abrogated – indeed, not even considered.

We can certainly do better in our understanding – not be perfect, perhaps … but be better. And that isn’t an arrogant claim. It is an humble and thankful statement that we had certainly better be able to improve on earlier theories because of the vast body of advances in the prophetic scene which have transpired since those early times. Just as “old” medical practices and procedures were as effective as they could possibly be for the time, our contemporary approaches are surely more effective, more satisfactory, and benefit the patient as fully as possible in this day.

So … to what are we referring? To the numerous, absolutely vital events which have spanned the time between that past era and today, ALL of them filling in details of prophetic fulfillment; allow me to list several that I can think of offhand, all of which bear critically on our overall understanding of Bible prophecy:

· That the Jews were responsible for the founding by THE JEWS THEMSELVES of the great scheme for The Return of the Jews to their Land in a time when they did not yet have a land to which to return, completely without any assistance from any organized world polity (any country, such as Britain).

· That two obscure Rabbis of East Europe – Rabbi Alkalai and Rabbi Kalischer – would soon perceive and propose that Israel’s redemption should actually come in TWO stages (obviously a scriptural teaching since it has happened in that way); that their “return to Him” would first be their physical “return” to the Land, although almost none of them had ever been there before, as inJeremiah 24:7; 35:15. Then, by work, they said, and faithful occupation and development of the Land, the Almighty would then redeem them as a body by the coming of Messiah, at which time they should “return” to Him in spirit, and be welcomed by Him with outstretched hearts and hands.

· That the key role in that Return should be filled chiefly by one man, Theodor Herzl, an Austrian attorney and journalist – a dreamer of the dream who was the prime mover of this plan while not even a "religious" Jew.

· That the inevitable, crawling and fitful, but persistent advance of the pioneers’ efforts eventually should achieve the spectacular success of World Zionism in returning the Jews of Europe and Western Asia once it gained traction.

· That the sparse trickle of those who in the 19^th century made Aliyah under the Ottoman Turk’s nose, should purchase scrubby and malaria-ridden, swampy land on their own initiative with donated money, and start to cultivate it entirely in agreement with the necessary preamble of the great Development Prophecy of Ezekiel 36: “Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord…”

· That oil in superabundance should be discovered under the sands of some of the most desolate land on earth – land wholly occupied by largely ignorant nomadic Arabs with little prior worldly assets and no civilized culture – and oil’s development parallel with its greatest consumer, the internal combustion engine which should be nearly simultaneously invented.

· That Britain would actually issue an Edict of Return on the Jews’ behalf (the Balfour instrument) and publish it widely as its rational reason for ousting the Ottoman Turk from Palestine.

· That the greatest navy in the world of that day should decide to convert its vessels from coal power to bunker oil-fed engines – a factor which would mandate that that navy’s owner, Britain, “get along” with the Arabs rather than antagonize them, in order to assure their supply of this precious oil. [This perhaps was the chief motivator of Britain’s change of plans immediately after it issued the Balfour Declaration, declaring that Britain favored the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine.]

· That a world war should be necessary to bring about the physical realignments that had to be made in order for the provisions of the Balfour Declaration to be implemented; that is, the ousting of the Ottoman Turk from Palestine, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia,Trans Jordan and the Arab Emirates.

· That his followers should behold the dramatic “drying up of the Euphrates,” easily recognizing it as the fulfillment ofRevelation 16:12 – not only that operation of “drying” but the meaning of the phrase immediately following in the verse, “that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.”

· That the “kings of the east” would not actually be Christ and the Saints coming in His glory as many had expected, but would be exactly what the language of Jesus in Luke 21:29 indicates: that the kings of the east would consist of “all the trees” besides the fig tree – nearly two dozen polities of Islamic sheiks, emirs, “kings” and rulers who should slice up that evacuated territory and take it to themselves, usually on good terms (or at least civil terms) with the Western developed nations who needed the oil being produced by some of them.

· That the settlement of the “Great War” should set the stage for the extreme repression and persecution of the Jews of Europe and West Asia by rabid fascists, giving their victims an insatiable compulsion to return to their Land, which in that era would be under a Mandate to Britain, which would retard their emigration in every possible way to placate their Arab friends.

· That Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 25 and other pointed prophecies should literally be fulfilled in the heinous events of the Nazi Holocaust, in which six million Jews and about six million others would be imprisoned, enslaved, gassed, incinerated, executed by firing squad, drowned and desecrated by a well-advanced civilization of Aryan anti-Semites led by a crazed, evil maniac.

· That the Jews would emigrate to the Land from Europe in great hordes, fleeing the xenophobia that they had experienced, and become so numerous in Palestine that they could effectively resist and repudiate the British mandatory government with guerrilla warfare, making it so uncomfortable that the now insignificant English would be forced to abdicate their mandate and hand it back to the United Nations Organization.

· That the pin-pointed “return” of Jews from Muslim countries listed specifically in Isaiah 11 was to be so starkly literal … and almost totally fulfilled by 1952!

· That the United Nations Organization should have succeeded the League of Nations – itself also yet unknown, being well ahead in time from 1865 – and that it should beyond all calculations approve by vote a Partition of Palestine into a Jewish State and an Arab State side by side in the remaining land (after 78 percent of it had been awarded to Abdullah of Mecca as Trans Jordan, later to become Jordan).

· That the Jews would accept the partition plan, but that the Arabs would not; and that 660,000 Jews immediately should find themselves at war with over 100 million Arabs, Egyptians, Persians, Druze and others in a death struggle for survival in a War of Independence.

· That this small number of Jews should form themselves into a citizen army of ill-trained, non-uniformed, poorly-equipped, inexperienced mob of rag-tag soldiers of liberty and actually win this forced war and gain far more territory than they had been awarded by the Partition Plan.

· That despite their best efforts in that conflict, half of Jerusalem should go into captivity to Jordanians of the Arab Legion, and the Old City be separated from Israel for nineteen more years.

· That this event – the conquest of Jerusalem in 1967 – should actually fulfill the prophecy of the 2300 evening-mornings rather than in the way earlier expected.

· That this unforeseen event – the loss of half of Jerusalem – of June 1949 should perfectly fulfill Zechariah 14:2.

· That, despite this severe disappointment, the Jewish State should immediately adopt Jerusalem as its eternal capital and form the infrastructure of its government in the Western half of the city, including most government operations, the presidential residence, the Knesset, and the other bureaus and agencies of governance. And that “the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.”

· That three more savage conflicts between Israel and its nearby enemies should ensue in the following 25 years with Israel being the supreme victor in each one without any doubt by any standard.

· That Israel should thus be the dedicated benefactor of the invisible intervention of the Archangel Michael who, In Daniel 12:1-3 should “stand up” for Israel behind the scenes and “fight for them as when God fought in the day of battle?”

· That as Israel developed mightily, and prospered in every way, the Arabs round about would be content to live in abject poverty and with vitriolic hatred of Israel dominating their cultures as foretold in great detail in numerous prophecies such as Obadiah, Isaiah 11, Ezekiel 35, Psalm 83, Psalm 102, Zechariah 10-14, Micah, Habakkuk and Malachi.

· That serial Arab attempts to wipe out Israel should fail miserably.

· That Israel’s armed forces should gain high respect among the national armies of the nations and establish the third strongest fighting force in the world.

· That the intellectual progress of the Jews would accelerate immensely, gaining Nobel Prizes for a great plurality of Jews proportional to all other peoples.

· Well … I suppose you have now grasped the enormity of the differences between what the earlier scholars expected and what has been observed to have occurred!

The expected track has incontrovertibly been compromised in almost every tenet which was earlier expected. However, as always, we acknowledge that the early scholars did as well with their current facts as anyone could have done in their times. We cannot in reality hold them responsible for the erroneous conclusions that they drew and published widely. They led no one astray! Yet, the absolute necessity was that many of the above “keys” had to transpire before the still subsequent events could possibly be understood, so we hold that these scholars did not purposely seek to lead anyone astray as to expectations, or to propagate a private “agenda” in so calculating. They projected their explanations and their correlations of prophetic writings in the most logical way possible for them at the time.

Those facts do not, however, give today’s Believers license to hold to these old, obviously erroneous projections. None of us are qualified “prophets” today; that era has long passed. We have only God’s Word – and it is MORE THAN SUFFICIENT! God’s Word is all we need, given the profusion of key prophetic fulfillment! It is our considered opinion that, for contemporary students to insist on the validity of those erroneous projections is to constitute themselves false prophets!

Yes … that is the only logical conclusion!

This stubborn insistence upon failed prophetic outlooks does everyone a great disservice: it fails to warn the contemporaneous Believers of the times in which we live. It fails to alert all their adherents that the time of Christ’s Second Advent is much nearer than they may suspect; it fails to encourage watchfulness and readiness for that great event. It may even engender in some a lazy attitude as to their own personal preparedness to meet their Saviour when He comes. So we must be frank in discussing these false presumptions: they essentially are vigorously forecasting events of the Endtime contrary to God’s revealed word.

The commandment of Isaiah 8:20, To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them, surely comes into effect here. The prophets have given ample and sure testimony concerning the Almighty’s plan for the Endtime. Any man speaking not according to these prophecies even after they have been fulfilled, refusing the clear facts presented to them is certainly guilty of false prophecy of a sort – for their suppositions and projections are NOT according to the word of God. They are seeking to establish a sequence of their own devices in contradistinction to the Almighty’s expressed will.

Yet, their misunderstandings are not in any way miscomprehension of the Basic (Saving) Plan of Salvation – the basic, underlying doctrinal scheme of Redemption and Rectification which men and women must understand and to which they must comply in making their covenant with the Almighty and His Son. In other words, the misunderstanding of these Endtime events is not a repudiation of the Father’s commandments as such, or an abridgment of His revealed plan of salvation. It is a different kind of erroneous expectation ; but it needs correcting immediately.

The honest repudiation of them is sorely called for in these perilous last days when those who profess the name of Christ may benefit so profoundly from a scriptural understanding of Endtime prophecies. These seekers of the City whose Builder and Maker is God, are called upon to repudiate their animosity toward others of their brethren who clearly see significant prophetic fulfillment in the myriad of events which have happened since 1870, and who have through much struggle and intense investigation begun to understand how these fit into the forecasts of the numerous prophecies of this momentous time in history – this great era of the final consolation of Israel, both natural and spiritual. The apostle addressed this matter in his letter to the Romans:

Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

In so saying it is evident that those things “written aforetime” include the prophetic word, and that they indeed are “for our learning,” and that we benefit eternally through patience and comfort of the scriptures.

<HEL, MD/USA April 26, 2011>

April 2011: CYRUS, THE LIBERATOR

Contributed by Ronald Roth,

Cataumet, Massachusetts, USA

Please read: Isaiah 45.

The manner in which the Lord designed his Holy instruction book is impressive, that we mortals might glean heavenly wisdom therefrom, He many times chose an Hebrew man to typify His as yet unborn Son. It becomes of interest, therefore, when one time He chose the life of one other than an Israelite; that specific honor went to one Cyrus, King of Persia.

In the 28th verse of the 44th chapter of Isaiah, this Cyrus is introduced by name as if standing in the presence of God. The account reads as follows, "That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.” This is a prophecy concerning Cyrus, the Persian, who was not even been born until a little over 150 years later!

It might seem to be incredible that the life and name of a man might be so clearly portrayed so long before his birth, but it leads us to recall the case of Josiah who was named some 300 yrs. before his birth (I Kings 13:1-3). And then there is Christ himself, who was named Immanuel in Isaiah 7.

This incident should raise no negative thoughts regarding credibility in the minds of Bible students, i.e., those which would question how or whether or not God would speak of or to a man that had not even been born yet. Remember Jeremiah's saying, “Then the word of the LORD came unto me saying, ‘Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” This illustrates very nicely how Yahweh, at times, has specifically revealed His divine will far in advance of its fulfillment.

An extremely interesting consideration of Cyrus is the manner in which he, an earthly king, was chosen by God to typify the work that would ultimately be accomplished by His own Son. Cyrus was, in actuality, more than a King; he was an Emperor: “the sovereign or supreme leader of an empire.” An empire is a large territory comprised of multiple countries, or kingdoms, that usually had been conquered by the existing power. This implication associated with Cyrus is notable because God’s Son, when He returns, will become a conqueror of ALL nations and truly an Emperor of Emperors!

In God’s terminology, a King is more than adequate because the entire world will have become one polity, one kingdom united under the supervision of His Son, Jesus Christ.

There were several interpretations or meanings associated with the name, CYRUS [Koresh or Choresh in the original tongue]; “sun,” “throne,” and “like the heir” were significant ones. When we consider the typical indications and the historical aspects of Cyrus' personage there is little doubt that the the interpretation “like the heir” fits the situation dramatically well.

Cyrus became one of the most powerful men the earth had seen up until his lifetime; he therefore typified the role of God’s Son when He arrives to put down and subdue all authority at the time of His return.

Cyrus provided various blessings toward the restoration of Israel to their rightful homeland [which Christ shall also provide].

Cyrus was called (in 44:28) “my shepherd,” while Jesus, ‘the heir’ was known as “the good shepherd.”

Cyrus was destined to be responsible for the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple while Jesus is “the man whose name is ‘the Branch’" who is designated to build the Temple of the Lord, and who, like Cyrus, shall free the Lord’s captive people. Has it not been said that “He led captivity captive and has given gifts unto men” (Ephesians 4:8)?

In the first verse of the chapter we have read, we note that Cyrus is actually called God’s Messiah or Anointed, and that this is the only place in the Scriptures where the term ‘Messiah’ is ascribed to a heathen king. Our interest here is of course that the only true Messiah as defined by scripture is Christ - ‘the heir.’

Further interest is aroused by the fact that not only does the composition and shadowing of the scriptures attest to the reality of this prophecy, but so also does secular history itself.

There are several versions proposed as to whom Cyrus really was. One has him as the son of Cambyses, a previous king of Persia. The gist of how Cyrus arrived at such a prominent position in Persia entails details that, even if legendary seem to fit the title “like the heir” with which we are dealing. The story goes that as son of Cambyses and a wife who Cambyses had married through political maneuvering, Cyrus' life was endangered as a babe. There had been a plan to slay him as soon as he had been born, and “like the heir” he was removed from harm by being sent out of the country and cared for by a herdsman and his wife until he could return to his rightful position in Persia.

Added to this information are historical allusions to his precociousness as a child-ruler by exercising mature and diligent character at an extremely young age. Both of these allusions, while certainly not able to be verified as to detail, are consistent with Cyrus’ strong typification of Christ’s life and mission.

In summary then, his quickness in understanding, the simplicity of his life, and the thoroughness of all his actions, his soberness and temperance, and the humanity manifested in his ruler ship, Cyrus was indeed, “like the heir”- a man "more precious than the gold of Ophir" (Isaiah 13: 12), though only a type of that “greater than he.”

We would like here to inject a sample of the attitude which Cyrus manifested toward the peoples which he had subdued. Cyrus’ unusual policies rested upon conciliation and identification with the national feelings and aspirations of the nations which he had conquered. The Babylonians did not find fault with him and the Jews were even became enthusiastic over him. Does not this continue to present a valid shadowing of the comparison “like the heir?”

Under his rule contentment was to be found everywhere. Having been born under adverse conditions he could be touched with the feelings of the infirmities of the peoples. Will not the anti-typical King, when His conquest is finally complete, be a Father to all? Hewill not, however, like Cyrus did, tolerate the Babylonian religion but will rather introduce forcibly to the “latter-day” Babylonians a more excellent way; and at last, these will not find fault with Him!

As to His primary subjects, the Jews, the scriptures tell us that, “In his days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely.”Like Cyrus, he will call for their return from all the lands of their captivity; He shall begin the building of the temple of the age to come. This will be his special work, for his Father, the Lord God of heaven, shall have given him all the kingdoms of the earth and charged him to build His house.

The entire work of Cyrus, as that of Jesus, was of God. This is the most emphatic testimony of this prophecy and is in complete harmony with all Scripture including the testimony of Jesus as concerning Himself. The doctrines disseminated by Trinitarians has grossly obscured the Truth. It is God who raised up Cyrus, who anointed him, who “held his hand,” who called him by name, who rded him and made his way prosperous. He, Himself, by His supreme power did these typical things long before His only begotten Son was even born!

Then, some four centuries later, the very same things were testified of Jesus “the heir” Himself! God brings forth Christ to sit upon his father David’s throne, has anointed Him, holds His hand and keeps Him, and gives Him for a covenant. All this, Jesus testified of himself with relation to the Father’s purpose in Israel and with the rest of mankind.

Now there is a great contrast in one particular between Cyrus and Christ. The third verse of the chapter we read in opening tells us that the Lord God told Cyrus that he did all these things “that Cyrus might know that I, the Lord which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.” Yet it is immediately said, “thou hast not known me.”

It is evident that this is not a mere reference to the fact that Cyrus had not been born as yet, but because of his posing as a worshiper of the gods of Babylon, which no true servant of the Lord of the type of Daniel and his companions would ever have done. It is true that Cyrus makes reference to “the Lord God of heaven” having charged him to build the Temple, but this does not necessitate his being a true worshiper of the Lord any more than Rabshekeh’s claim of the Lord’s commission to him made him a true worshiper. (Isaiah 36:10) But, in Christ we see His awareness and knowledge of the Father in the highest possible manifestation which substantiated his being named Immanuel, i.e., “God with Israel”[with us] as he himself testified in his doctrine (Matthew 1:23).

Again, there is a comparison and a contrast when we apply the phrase, “for Jacob’s sake” to Cyrus and Jesus. It was not willingly and primarily “for Jacob’s sake” that Cyrus made his conquests and took the great kingdom and city of Babylon; and as for the ultimate destiny of Israel, God’s elect, there lay little connection with Cyrus' ideals. Just as the Assyrian had been employed as God’s “rod of anger” to chastise Israel, both these despots thought they were merely fulfilling their own destinies and agendas. Thus, Cyrus was employed by God to “shepherd” Israel, not specifically meaning to accomplish that in detail, but only to consolidate and re-found their own great dominion utilizing Cyrus’ own innate ideas of humanity and justice.

Now after considering some of the details of our comparison, we focus upon that vital “heir of all things” and the “shepherding for God” which He accomplished for Jacob my servants’ sake and for “Israel mine elect,”and we ask ourselves the question as to just how far does the antitype exceed the type in glory? Anointed by the Father with the Holy Spirit, and with power, He went about doing good and at the last, as the Good Shepherd, He “laid down his life for his sheep.”

And after laying it down, He took it up again as He was allowed to do by the Father - in order to fulfill the covenant made to Jacob to the uttermost. The lives of the Fathers of Israel and of all “the elect” are “hid in Him.” When he appears the second time they will appear with him in glory and inherit the land forever.

All the typical work of Cyrus was stated to be for the sole purpose of making known the Name of the Lord - and that there would be no God beside Him. Truly in Cyrus' career, he accomplished so many striking things that the prophets had foretold that it provided an outstanding testimony that the God of Israel, not the gods of Babylon, was the Master of the universe, the Avenger of His people, and the Creator and Possessor of heaven and earth.

Albeit, these events of Cyrus' life were nothing when compared with the manifestation of the name of the Lord in Jesus Christ in His time and to be so in the future. Greater works than those of Cyrus has he done and will do! “The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it!” (Isaiah 40:5 )

That message to Cyrus, however, goes on in the 7th verse of the chapter which we read this morning, "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.”

Considering these words in reference to Cyrus, and Babylon of 540 BC, then in reference to Jesus and antitypical Babylon of the 20th century, what can be their signification?

Let us first consider light and darkness, then grace and evil with reference to Israel in the day of Cyrus. God had enlightened Israel at the first and had redeemed them from Egypt. However, as a result of their unfaithfulness, he darkened their “heavens” and the people were driven into spiritual darkness (see Isaiah 5:30). He had given them peace, but they had walked not in His counsel and as a result, evil overtook them by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. Some, it was said, went into captivity “for their good,” and some “for their hurt,” or for evil; but it was all a result of God working amongst them.

Now, in connection with the 8th verse: did “the heavens drop down” in the days of Cyrus, or of Nebuchadnezzar? And did “the skies pour down righteousness” as in Isaiah 45: 8? What about “the earth opening to bring forth salvation?" There is no record of such in their times. There were, however, angelic visits to Daniel when and his companions were delivered from the fiery furnace; and when Gabriel, in answer to Daniel’s prayer, enlightened him as to the many things which were yet to come. But, as to salvation by resurrection, Gabriel himself referred Daniel to a very special “time of the end,” described as "a time of trouble such as never was;" to a time when Israel would be fully redeemed - not by Cyrus, the man we now recognize as being “like the heir,” but by that very “heir” Himself, even Jesus Christ the Son of Yahweh. This description from the beginning of Daniel 12 depicts Christ as Michael, meaning “Who like God,” but in full correspondence with our subject matter this morning, could be referred to as “Who, as God’s heir,” and is the personage who [ultimately] stands up for Israel in that day.

Daniel was told by Gabriel, “At that time, thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be written in the Book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever."

And Daniel himself was promised participation in the glory then to be revealed.

It is very obvious that this greater deliverance is the final objective for this far-reaching prophecy concerning Cyrus. The statement found in the 17th verse, “But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation“ alludes to the central objective regarding Yahweh’s plan for His creation.

Centuries later the apostle Paul in his writing to the Philippians was exhorting them to imitate the humility and obedience of Christ, which had been to some degree typified by Cyrus, and said. “He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore hath God highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father."

Herein lies a Return of much greater stature than that from Babylonia, as this redemption involves "everyone that shall be found written in the book” (Daniel 12:1) thus including not only natural Israel, but also those multitudes of Gentiles who comprise Spiritual Israel, many of whom have been sleeping in the dust of the earth for so many centuries, awaiting this promised fulfillment!

Death and the grave are scripturally considered as “the great captivity” and the “prison-house of bondage.” Hence it is said of Jesus that he had “loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be holden of it.” (Acts 2:24) Also, “As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.” (Zechariah 9:11) Therefore, like Cyrus, who regarded not silver and gold, Jesus will release the captives “not for price nor reward, saith the Lord of Hosts.”

Babylon resisted Cyrus and fell before him; as the result of Cyrus' victory, Israel, “God’s son” his Firstborn, was liberated and exalted by him. So shall it be under Jesus. Babylon the Great will again make war upon the anti-typical Christ, and will fall before Him, and His victory will be associated with “the manifestation of the sons of God.” This is what lies before us in this picture of mankind with his maker, as presented to us in the prophecy focusing upon the resurrection of the dead in ”the time of the end!”

If we now skip down to the ninth verse and read through verse 11, “Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth? Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.”

In the days of the Babylonian captivity the indication of the strife between man and his Maker lay in such matters as Nebuchadnezzar’s boast over having personally created Great Babylon, his institution of the worship of the massive image, and the attempted burning of the servants of God who refused to so worship; also, in the blasphemies of Belshazzar at his feast while dishonoring the Lord and the vessels from the Temple at Jerusalem in a drunken orgy.

These monarchs were asking the questions, Who IS the Lord? Who IS this God who can deliver you out of my hands? Who is Israel - His son - his firstborn? What hath He bought forth?

In the eyes of oppressors, here existed a nation of [potential] slaves that they might easily place in bondage. Nebuchadnezzar, however, was humbled by their God; madness sent by this God of Israel overcame him; he experienced eating grass in the field like the oxen he used to own. Belshazzar came to his end by being slain in the fall of Babylon, and in accord with the mysterious message written by an angel on his palace wall that very same night.

Such were the woes that came upon Babylonia in those days, the last of which were administered by the hand of Cyrus, the Liberator of God's people, Whom He had determined to restore to their rightful Land.

<R K Roth, Feb. 26, 2011>

The eTPL accepts articles by contributing authors from time to time. Publication of such articles does not necessarily imply full agreement with the author’s viewpoint, but we consider such contributions helpful for analytical discussion of various aspects of prophecy - Editor.

The e Prophecy Letter

March 2011

Why Ezekiel 38/39 and Daniel 11:40-45 are Different Prophecies

By Jonathan Farrar, Ontario, Canada

The interpretation of Daniel 11:40-45 that was developed and expounded by brethren in the 19^th century is that it is parallel with Ezekiel 38 & 39. That is, the “king of the north” of Daniel 11:40-45 is the same as "Gog" in Ezekiel 38 & 39. Dr. Thomas gives 6 “proofs” of this congruency in Elpis Israel (p.422-423, 14^th ed.), and 7 “proofs” in his Exposition of Daniel (p. 82-83).

In our study of prophecy, it is the name of God that we seek to glorify and not to vindicate the exposition of any man. Prophecy was given by God to have our faith strengthened in the prophetic word by being able to understand the events in the Bible that are as yet unfulfilled, so that when they do happen, we might believe (John 14:29). Therefore, we must carefully consider the Scriptures and the record of history. Living in the twenty-first century, we have an advantage that our brethren in the nineteenth century did not have, because of the time when they lived. Unlike them, we have witnessed the end of the Jewish dispersion in measure and the re-establishment of Israel and therefore have the benefit of historical fulfillment to guide us in our understanding.

No first principle of the truth is compromised if brethren differ on the finer details of prophecy. All that changes is what we watch for in connection with the second coming of Christ.

In this paper, I will offer 20 reasons why these two prophecies appear to be different. I will then examine the 7 “proofs” offered in the Exposition of Daniel and analyze them. I respectfully disagree with all of them. Finally I will present the case that Daniel 11:40-45 is a prophecy that was fulfilled in 1917 with the termination of the Ottoman Turkish power shortly after General Allenby captured Jerusalem.

Part I

20 Reasons why Ezekiel 38/39 and

Daniel 11:40-45 appear to be different

1. The contexts are different. Below I compare the contexts of these prophecies.

Daniel 11

Daniel 11 details a long history of successive powers competing for control over the land of Israel. These powers were north and south of Israel, and are therefore described as the ‘king of the north’ and ‘king of the south’. Daniel 11 opens circa 534 BC with Cyrus as king.1 Verse 2 refers to four subsequent monarchs of Persia (Cambyses, Smerdis, Darius I Hystaspes and Xerxes).

A description of Alexander’s Greek empire and its subsequent division are next (11:3-4), after which the northern and southern fragment of his empire and their kings competed for dominance and engaged in conflicts over the territory of the Holy Land (11:5-29). The kings of the north were the Seleucids, i.e., Greek rulers whose domain was centred in Syria and Mesopotamia from 312 to 64 BC. The kings of the south were the Ptolemies, i.e., the Greek kings of Egypt who ruled from 323 to 30 BC.

Daniel 11:30-35 describes the Pagan Roman Empire which took control of the lands from the Seleucids and Ptolemies (to 330 AD), and Daniel 11:36-39 describes the Byzantine Christian Roman Empire which controlled this same land (through 640 AD). Daniel 11:40-45 begins sometime after 640 AD.

Ezekiel 38

Ezekiel 38 (& 39) seems to be part of a sequence of events from chapters 32 through 39. For broader context, chapters 25 through 36 call for the destruction of Arab nations that surround Israel, with one exception: chapter 27 is the past destruction of Tyre by Alexander the Great in 322 BC. Chapter 37 is the ultimate regathering of the Jews to Israel, when they will dwell there permanently and when Christ is king (v.24-25). Chapters 38 & 39 describe a massive invasion into Israel, spearheaded by a power identified as Gog, which is accompanied by various allies, but completely annihilated. Chapters 40 through 48 describe the new temple era and geography of the restored kingdom of Israel after the Gogian-led onslaught against Israel has ceased.

Summary

It appears as if the contexts of Daniel 11 & Ezekiel 38 are quite different. However, that is not reason enough to conclude that they could not contain an identical prophecy.

2. They attack at different times. Gog attacks Israel in the “latter years” (38:8) and “latter days” (38:16); the king of the north attacks the king of the south at the “time of the end” (11:40). These are two different expressions that refer to different times.

The expression “time of the end” occurs only in the book of Daniel, in 8:17, 11:35, 11:40, 12:4 and 12:9. It must be understood from its context in Daniel. The expression “latter days” (also translated as “last days” in the KJV) occurs 15 times in the Old Testament and 4 times in the New Testament, in 10 Old Testament books and 4 New Testament books. Furthermore, the expression “latter days” occurs twice in Daniel (2:28 and 10:14). The fact that this expression also occurs in Daniel means that it is not to be understood the same way as the “time of the end.” Rather, the expression “latter days” must be understood from the context of the 10 OT books and 4 NT books in which it occurs.

The following is a list of all the occurrences of the identical expressions “latter days” or “last days.”

Verse Verse Description

Genesis 49:1 What happens to the 12 sons of Jacob/12 sons of Israel

Numbers 24:14 Return of Jesus; Jesus will smite Moab, Edom & Seir; Israel will be victorious

Deuteronomy 4:30 Israel is in tribulation

Deuteronomy 31:29 Evil will befall Israel

Isaiah 2:2 The mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established; nations will go to worship there; Jerusalem will be an administrative capital; no more war.

Jeremiah 23:20 God’s anger is executed on the wicked (false prophets)

Jeremiah 30:24 God restores the fortunes of Israel; Jesus is ruling; Israel is God’s people; God’s anger goes forth as a whirlwind.

Jeremiah 48:47 Moab’s fortunes are restored

Jeremiah 49:39 Persia/Iran’s fortunes are restored

Ezekiel 38:16 The Gogian (Russian) host will attack Israel

Daniel 2:28 Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the image – ten toes

Dan 10:14 Something happens to the Jews

Hosea 3:5 Israel is regathered; they will seek God; Christ is their king

Joel 2:28-32 Chaos in the political heavens; refuge for those who seek God; Zion/Jerusalem appears to be the capital city

Micah 4:1 Same as Isaiah 2:2

Acts 2:17 People speaking in tongues was a foretaste of what will happen in the actual last days

2 Tim 3:1 Difficult living – immorality in the world

James 5:3 Laid up treasure for the last days

2 Peter 3:3 Scoffers, walking after their own lusts, saying, Where is the promise of His coming?

To summarize, the “latter days” or “last days” refers to a time period when the Jews have returned to their land, the temple is rebuilt in Jerusalem, Christ is reigning, and God has judged nations such as Moab, Elam, Sodom, Seir and Amalek. It also includes the time just prior to the return of Christ, since it will be a time of difficult living when scoffers mock the notion that Christ will return.2,3

The “time of the end” refers to the vision of the 2300 days in Daniel 8:17, the time when the king of the north in Daniel 11:35 was sacked by the Romans, and the time when the king of the north in 11:40 warred (or wars) against the king of the south. In Daniel 12:4, Daniel was told to shut up (keep hidden) the words, and seal the book, until the time of the end. In Daniel 12:9, Daniel was told that the words were to be hidden and sealed until the time of the end. Thus, we learn from Daniel 12 that the “time of the end” refers to the time when Daniel’s prophecies could begin to be understood, i.e., unsealed, and were no longer secretive. The two prophecies in Daniel 11 with this expression and the prophecy of the 2300 days in Daniel 8 would not be understood by people in Daniel’s day but can be understood today, or will be understood if fulfilled.

If Ezekiel 38 was parallel with Daniel 11:40-45, one might expect to find the phrase “latter days” in Daniel’s version. The fact that a completely different expression occurs – “time of the end” – suggests that the two prophecies are speaking about different time periods, especially since Daniel uses the phrase “latter days” elsewhere in his book.

3. They have different purposes. Gog’s intention is to take booty from Israel (38:12); to this end, Gog attacks Israel (38:16). In contrast, the king of the north overflows and passes through Israel on his way to attack the king of the south (11:40). The king of the north does not come to take a spoil and a prey from Israel.

Incidentally, the expression ‘overflow and pass over’ does not identify a particular power. This expression is a metaphor for a sweeping invasion. It is used in 11:10 in reference to Antiochus III, the king of the north, who invaded part of Judea shortly before the battle of Raphia in 217 AD; and again in Isaiah 8:8 in reference to Sennacherib’s invasion of Judea circa 700 BC.

4. They meet different fates. In 11:45, the king of the north places a palatial tent between the Mediterranean Sea and mount Zion and comes to his end without assistance. In contrast, Gog is surrounded with a “great company” who assist him (the nations in Ezekiel 38:5-6). Furthermore, Gog is destroyed by an Israeli host, accompanied by pestilence, rain, hail, fire and brimstone. A great earthquake also occurs (38:20). Gog’s weapons are burned by Israel for seven years (39:9); the Gogian host is buried in Israel in the valley of Hamongog (39:11); and it takes seven months for Israel to bury Gog’s host (39:12). In general, the fate of the Gogian host is on a much, much larger scale than the king of the north in 11:45, who simply “comes to his end.” And, the king of the north stands alone when he meets his end (without assistance), whereas Gog is surrounded by allies when he meets his end (with assistance).

5. Gog is destroyed immediately, but the king of the north is not. The Gogian host is destroyed immediately - “at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel” (38:18). The king of the north has passed through the Holy Land; Edom, Moab and Ammon escape from him; and he has been controlling Egypt, Libya & Ethiopia before he comes to his end.

6. The reasons for their fates are different. The reason for the fate of the king of the north is not expressly provided, although the context suggests that the succession of kings from the Seleucid Empire finally terminates once God’s purpose with that kingdom has ceased. The reason for the demise of Gog is expressly provided – so that God’s holy name is known in Israel and so that the nations know that God is the Holy One in Israel (39:7), and so the house of Israel will know that the LORD is their God from that day and forward (39:22, 28).

7. There is no mention of the king of the south in Ezekiel 38. There is no mention of any kind of southern power who comes to attack Gog in 38. In contrast, the king of the south is the force who opposes the king of the north in 11:40. If the two prophecies were identical, one might expect to find a reference to a southern power in Ezekiel 38, but there is none.

Although there are nations in Ezekiel 38 which may be south of Israel (Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, with the young lions), they do not attack the king of the north, but act as spectators, asking the Gogian host, “Art thou come to take a spoil?” (v.13).

Furthermore, none of these nations are historically identifiable with the Ptolemaic kings of Daniel 11.

As an aside, it is difficult to identify the king of the south in 11:40 if the king of the north is Gog/Russia from Ezekiel 38. What southern power, historically associated with a Ptolemaic conquest over the land of Israel, is in a position to attack an invading force so gigantic that it takes Israel seven months to bury its dead warriors (39:12), and seven years to burn its weapons (39:9)?

8. The nations associated with Gog in Ezekiel 38 are completely different or appear in different contexts than the nations associated with the king of the north in Daniel 11. Although Libya & Ethiopia appear in both chapters, they are mentioned in entirely different contexts. Libya & Ethiopia, along with Egypt, are subservient to the king of the north in 11:43, but Libya & Ethiopia, along with Iran, Gomer & Togarmah, attack with the Gogian host in 38:5.

I have used the work of Bro. Bill Yake to assist in identifying the following list of nations of Ezekiel 38: Rosh, Meshech & Tubal (v.2); and Gomer and Togarmah (v.6).4 Persia (Iran), Ethiopia & Libya are also listed in v.5. Persia, Ethiopia, Libya, Gomer & Togarmah accompany Gog as he invades Israel. Gog is identified in 38:2 as the chief prince (KJV) of Meshech and Tubal. The word ‘chief’ is the Hebrew ‘rosh.’ Bill Yake writes, “If Ezekiel intended the phrase “chief prince," he would have used the phrase “nisi ha-rosh,” the common phrase for “chief prince.” But, in Ezekiel 38:3, the author used the phrase “nisi Rosh,” meaning “prince of Rosh.” (p.259). It seems therefore as if Ezekiel was indicating a location associated with Gog. Bro. Yake reviews the compelling evidence to associate ‘Rosh’ with Russia in Chapter 4 of his manuscript. A more accurate rendering of Ezekiel 38:2 is, “Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal.” In Ezekiel 38, Gog seems to refer to a military ruler who comes from the area of Rosh (Russia), Magog, Meshech, and Tubal (all discussed subsequently). Magog was one of the 7 sons of Japheth. Bill Yake reviews the considerable evidence that he settled in Scythia. Meshech & Tubal were two nations inhabiting regions between the Caspian and Black Seas

Meshech is historically associated with the Moschi/Mushki/Muscovites in the land of Musku, near the Moschic mountains, at the eastern end of the Black Sea.

Tubal is associated with the Tibareni/Tabali/Tabalu people in the land of Tabal. (Meshech & Tubal are not derived from ‘Moscow’ and ‘Tobolsk’ - Moscow doesn’t appear in historical literature until AD 1147, and Tobolsk was not founded until 1587 AD (Yake p.278)).

· Persia - Iran

· Ethiopia – Ethiopia

· Libya - Libya

· Gomer refers to the Cimmerians (who settled in Cappadocia)

· Togarmah was the city of Til-Garimmu, west of Tabal.

· Sheba, Dedan & the merchants of Tarshish, with the young lions, ask Gog if he is come to take a great spoil (38:13). They do not accompany the Gogian host.

Because the nations in each of Daniel 11:40-45 and Ezekiel 38 are either completely different or appear in different contexts, it appears as if the king of the north is not the same as the Gogian host.

9. The geographical “north” references are not the same. Ezekiel refers to “north quarters” (38:6) and “north parts” (38:15 and 39:2). Daniel 11:40 refers to the king of the north. There are at least 3 reasons why the “north” references should not be assumed to be identical: a) There are multiple territories that are north of Israel. b) Daniel’s king of the north is singular, whereas Ezekiel’s host is plural. The use of singular and plural language is consistent with fairly narrow geographic location and broader geographic location, respectively. c) The reference to “north” does not have to indicate the location of a power because it can also refer to the direction of attack. For example, Babylon was east of Israel, but Jeremiah 4:6 warns that the disaster comes “from the north”. The same language is used of Babylon in Jeremiah 1:13-15; 3:18; 6:1, 22; 10:22; and Zechariah 2:6-7. The same is true for Assyria’s attack on Israel in Zephaniah 2:13, and Persia’s attack on Babylon in Jeremiah 50:3.

Given that the Gogian confederacy includes Persia (east of Israel) and Ethiopia and Libya (southwest of Israel), the reference to “north” in Ezekiel 38 cannot refer exclusively to geographic location, but must refer to direction of attack. Therefore, the use of the direction ‘north’ is different in these two prophecies: the reference to ‘north’ in Daniel 11 is geographic, whereas the reference to ‘north’ in Ezekiel 38 refers to the direction of attack.

10. News comes from the north and east to cause a furious reaction in the king of the north in 11:44, but no such news reaches Gog. Furthermore, if the king of the north is Russia, it is difficult to understand where the ‘northern’ news comes from, since north of Russia is the Arctic Ocean.

11. The entire host of Gog is destroyed, but nothing suggests that the king of the north is entirely destroyed. In Ezekiel 39:2, ‘no sixth part’ (Septuagint) will remain of Gog’s host, i.e., there shall be complete extinction. All we know about the king of the north is that he comes to his end.

Ezekiel 38:17 says that Gog has been spoken of “in old time by my servants the prophets,” i.e., previously mentioned by at least two prophets. Daniel came after Ezekiel, and so could not be referred to as a Gogian reference spoken of by Ezekiel. Thus, the king of the north in Daniel 11 could not have been spoken of as Gog by Ezekiel.

The references to Gog in the prophets seem to be obscure. One possibility is Joel 2:20, which seems to refer to the Gogian host, i.e. a “northern army”. Both Joel 2:20 and Ezekiel 39:11 mention an east sea and a stench. Joel prophesied 230 years before Ezekiel, so he could be spoken of by Ezekiel.

There are several reasons why the Assyrian in Micah 5:4-7 may also be a reference to the Gogian host: 1) Jesus appears to be reigning in 5:4 – same as in the Ezekiel 37 & 38 sequence; 2) Assyria can be geographically associated with Meshech, Tubal, Gomer, and Togarmah; 3) The Assyrian comes into the land of Israel, just like the Gogian host; 4) Israel attacks the Assyrian with the sword in 5:6, just as it does to the Gogian host in 38:21; 5) Israel is delivered from the Assyrian attack in 5:6, just as it is delivered from the Gogian host; 6) and Assyria attacks “in the day that thy walls are to be built” in Micah 7:11; this may be similar to Ezekiel 38:11, in which the Gogian host attacks a land of unwalled villages. Micah prophesied about 130 years before Ezekiel, so he could be spoken of by Ezekiel.5

In Numbers 24:17, Balaam prophesied that Israel’s king would be higher than Agag (Gog). This may be a reference to the same Gog of Ezekiel 38, rather than the Amalekite king Agag who was killed by Samuel in I Sam. 15:33. The Septuagint translation of Amos 7:1 mentions “King Gog,” although this translation is incorrect and “Gog” is not referenced. The Septuagint translators incorrectly deciphered some of the Hebrew letters in that verse.6

13. Gog attacks when Israel dwells confidently (Heb. betach). Nothing indicates that the king of the north invades Israel when Israel dwells confidently.

14. The Gogian host wants to take booty from Israel (38:12), but the king of the north wants to take booty from Egypt, Libya and Ethiopia (11:43).

15. Gog is pulled back from invading Israel, whereas the king of the north passes through Israel en route to Egypt, Libya and Ethiopia, and is not pulled back from Israel. In Ezekiel 38:4, Ezekiel prophesies the dramatic pulling-back of the Gogian host from Israel. He alludes to the Assyrian practice of placing hooks in the jaws of their captives, and tying them to a rope. Daniel makes no Assyrian references to the king of the north, and the king of the north is allowed to pass through the Holy Land, i.e., is not pulled back.

16. Gog is described as a guard to other nations the king of the north is never described similarly. 17. The king of the north plants palatial tents (11:45); Gog does not.

The next three points assume that Ezekiel chapters 38 & 39 follow in chronological sequence from chapter 37. These points are not necessary for the argument that Daniel 11:40-45 is different from Ezekiel 38 & 39.

18. Christ appears to be on the earth and reigning in Israel when the Gogian host invades Israel (37:24-25); there is no mention of Christ reigning in Israel in Daniel 11.

19. The Jews appear to be regathered in Israel when Gog invades, but not when the king of the north passes through. The Jews appear to be regathered in Israel when Gog attacks, not only because Christ is reigning over them, but because 37:21 says that God will take the children of Israel from among the nations and bring them into their own land; 37:22 says that they will be one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; 37:25 says that they will dwell in the land given unto Jacob for ever; 37:26 says God has made his everlasting covenant with them; and 37:27 says that God dwells with them. There is no mention of the Jews being regathered or permanently dwelling in their own land in Daniel 11:40-45 (or the rest of Daniel 11). Rather, Daniel 11 is concerned with events in the land of Israel during the time of Israel’s dispersion, in which the land of Israel is a battleground between competing powers located north and south of Israel.

20. Daniel 12 speaks of the resurrection, and seems to follow sequentially from Daniel 11. In Ezekiel 37, the resurrection has occurred since the Jews are in their land and God has made his everlasting covenant with them; then in chapter 38 the Gogian host invades. If so, the resurrection occurs after the king of the north in 11:40-45, but before the Gogian host invades in 38, which means that the king of the north in 11:40-45 cannot be the Gogian host of 38 & 39.

Part 2

Considering the “Proofs” from

the Exposition of Daniel

In this section I reproduce and analyze the 7 proofs offered in the Exposition of Daniel (“Proof of the Russian Power being the King of the North”, p.82; John Thomas) as to why the king of the north in Daniel 11:40-45 is identical to Gog in Ezekiel 38.

My conclusion is that all 7 proofs are incorrect and do not prove that the king of the north in Daniel 11:40-45 is the same as Gog in Ezekiel 38. Rather, they strengthen the case that these two powers are different.

The proof is stated, and the bullet points are commentary.

1. “Their geographic position is the same. Gog’s country is the north parts in relation to the Holy Land; as it is written, 'Thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts.' Gog is therefore the king of the north, his place or country being there.”

● There are multiple jurisdictions that are north of the Holy Land;

● Ezekiel’s geographical references are plural, indicating the multiplicity of nations that make up the host, including some that are obviously not north of Israel (Persia is east; Libya and Ethiopia are southwest);

● “North” can also refer to the direction of attack – e.g., Babylon’s attacks on Israel (Jeremiah 4:6, 6:22, 10:22), Assyria’s attack on Israel (Zephaniah 2:13), and Persia’s attack on Babylon (Jeremiah 50:3; 51:48).

2. “They are both the adversaries of Israel, and the invaders of their country.”

● Israel has had multiple adversaries over the years;

● The adversaries could be identical, or they could be different.

3. “The time they invade the land is the same. The king of the north invades it in the time of the end; and of Gog it is said, 'It shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land.'”

● The “time of the end” in Daniel 11:40 is not the “latter days” of Ezekiel 38;

● The phrase “time of the end” occurs 5 times in Daniel (8:17; 11:35; 11:40; 12:4; 12:9), occurs only in Daniel, and is associated with the unsealing of Daniel’s prophecy;

● In the KJV, the expression “latter days” (“last days”) occurs 15 times in 10 OT books, is not associated with the unsealing of Daniel’s prophecy, but is associated with many other things, such as the return of the Jews to their land, the establishment of God’s temple in Jerusalem, and God’s judgments on Moab, Elam, Edom, Seir, and Amalek.

4. “The same peoples are named as components of their armies. The Libyans and the Ethiopians are at the steps of the king of the north; and in the enumeration of Gog’s forces, it says, “Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them.””

● In Daniel 11:42-43 Libya and Ethiopia are ruled over by the king of the north after the king of the north passes through the Holy Land;

● In Ezekiel 38:5, Libya and Ethiopia are not ruled over by a northern invader – they accompany a northern invader as it invades the mountains of Israel;

● Isolating Libya & Ethiopia in both chapters ignores the other, different nations that are associated with them: Egypt in Daniel 11, and Persia, Gomer, Togarmah, Meshech, Tubal, Magog, Ros, and Gog in Ezekiel 38.

5. “Hostile tidings come from the east and north which excite the king of the north to fury; while tidings also come to Gog from the same quarter to deter him from invading the Holy Land.”

● Troublesome news from the north and east incites a furious reaction from the king of the north;

● No mention of news that come to Gog from the north or from the east; no mention of any news that reaches Gog; no mention of anything that deters Gog from invading the Holy Land.

6. “The king of the north encounters the Little Horn; and Gog is antagonized by “Sheba and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish and the young lions thereof” – the Anglo-Indian power – the “ancient ally” of the Little Horn.”

● no mention of the “little horn” in Daniel 11:40-45.

● no mention of the “little horn” in Ezekiel 38.

● Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish and the young lions are not mentioned in Daniel 11.

7. “They both meet with the same fate, at the same time, in the same place, by the same power. The “king of fierce countenance” stands up against the Prince of princes; the king of the north encounters Michael the Great Prince; and Gog is smitten by Adonai Yahweh.”

● The king of the north meets his end after he plants palatial tents between the Mediterranean Sea and the sacred hill at Jerusalem; how he meets his end is unclear (Dan 11:45). Michael the Prince does not stand up against “the king of fierce countenance;” Michael the Prince stands up after the king of the north meets his end (Dan 12:1); the “king of fierce countenance” is mentioned in Daniel 8:23 in a completely different context.

● The Gogian host meets its end after God punishes it with pestilence, blood, hailstones, fire, and brimstone (Ezekiel 38:22); there will be a great earthquake (38:20); the Gogian host is buried in the valley of Hamon-gog (Ezekiel 39:11), and it takes 7 months for it to be buried (39:12); afterwards, the house of Israel will know that the Lord God is their God.

● Daniel 11 contains one verse about the fate of the king of the north; Ezekiel 38:19-23 & 39:1-22 (27 verses) describe the fate of the Gogian host. The destruction of Gog appears to be on a much larger scale than the destruction of the king of the north.

Part 3

The Ottoman interpretation of Daniel 11:40-45

In this section, I will present the case that Daniel 11:40-45 is a prophecy that was fulfilled in 1917 with the termination of the Ottoman Turkish power shortly after General Allenby captured Jerusalem. This interpretation is not original to me, and seems to have been first identified as a possible interpretation not long after the conclusion of World War I. To illustrate, here is an excerpt from Islip Collyer’s book Daniel and Christ (pp.94 & 95), written in 1934, just 17 years after the Ottoman power came to an end.

“We were told in early days that the latter-day king of the North was identical with Gog, referred to in Ezekiel 38. As a result of this early impression we fell into an error from which perhaps others are not free ... all that can honestly be said is that the description of the king of the North in Daniel 11 is sufficiently in accord with the prophecy of Ezekiel that it may possibly relate to the same event. In view of the fact that this invasion is said to occur at the time of the end we might naturally assume the identity of the king of the North with Gog, but for the fact that another interpretation is so supported by history that it is difficult to suppose that there is nothing by coincidence in the matter.

“The Turks, coming from the North of Palestine and originally from beyond Euphrates, not only stormed against the Roman power, but as the prophecy suggests, this Euphratean flood “overflowed and passed over.” The Turks came with horses and chariots and many ships. They took the land of Egypt and had dominion over its treasures. The Turkish power entered the “glorious land” and overthrew its many countries, but in Edom, Moab and Ammon, which according to the prophecy were to escape, the Arabs have maintained a remarkable independence.

“The Turk planted his power in the glorious holy mountain and for many years Palestine was under his heel, but in the year 1917 he was driven right out of the land with a terrible overflow, and he came to his end as king of the North ... here then is a possible meaning of the text which cannot be ignored.”

Other brethren have since compared the facts of history with Daniel 11:40-45 and have come to the same conclusion as Bro. Collyer, although more emphatically. I have reproduced a comprehensive explanation for the “Ottoman interpretation” from Bro. Harold Lafferty’s The Prophecy Letter, May & June 1996. It was originally entitled “The King of the North: Terminated in 1917.”

Here it is:

“Many brethren are not aware that the King of the North is no longer in the prophetic picture. He will never again threaten God’s Land. He met his last end in 1917, when the forces of Britain captured Jerusalem and all Palestine from the Ottomans, which resulted in the drying up of the river Euphrates (Revelation 16:12), and made way for “the kings of the east.”

At that point, Israel had been promised an Homeland in Palestine by the Balfour Declaration – and that promise was soon to be confirmed by the League of Nations. Jewish fortunes abruptly changed for the better. The Almighty began to show us men and women who were watching that He was now fulfilling His plan with accelerated vigour; we were traveling no longer altogether by faith, but partially by SIGHT. When General Edmund Allenby captured Jerusalem in December, 1917 he did it not for Britain, but to hold for future Jewish return. Indeed, in 1922 the League of Nations gave Britain just such a Mandate - to form a homeland for the Jews according to the terms of the Balfour Declaration of 1917. Their government over Palestine was termed the British Mandatory Government, or the British Mandate.

The Jews began to return in fair numbers, until 1922, when their immigration was stifled by a British White Paper limiting their influx to 1,500 per month! This came about because of extreme Arabic pressure on Britain to keep the Jews out of Palestine.

Now, we are perfectly aware that earlier expositors have looked at these events as part of a unified, greatly complex, conflagration to take place at the End Time - a massive battle against God’s regathered People, Israel, by The King of the North, by Gog of the Land of Magog, the “latter day Assyrian” and others.

Problem is, it didn’t turn out that way at all. And cannot do so, for two of the key players have now been extinguished - the King of the North and the King of the South.

Daniel 11 details the long, serial narrative of the several Kings of the North and South in their contest to win and hold the Promised Lands during the time of Israel’s dispersion. The centuries saw several kings and countries gain and hold the titles King of the North, and King of the South. The criteria for those designations was only two: to be located either north or south of the Promised Land and its holy city, Jerusalem; and to come against it and gain control of it for ones own profit and gratification before the re-gathering began.

The situation at the time when John Thomas wrote Elpis Israel, was that Egypt had already come to her end as the King of the South; Ottoman Turkey was then King of the North. The interplay between these specific powers begins in Daniel 11:40, and continues through the end of the chapter, verse 45. This is the primary reference to these final episodes of these primary powers. The time period covered is 400 years: from 1517 to 1917 AD. Let’s examine them in some detail:

Daniel 11:40 - “At the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.”

What does this verse mean? The southern king threatens the northern one, and is attacked straightway. It takes place at “the time of the end.” That time period is defined in the writings of Daniel by its uses, one of which is in the verse quoted above. Also, in Daniel 12:9, the words of the book are “closed up and sealed till the time of the end,” as also in verse 4. These words were un-sealed well before 1517 AD, the time of this fulfillment. In contrast to these words, John is told in Revelation 22:10, “seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.” The Revelation, it will surely be agreed, fleshes out and explains the writings of Daniel to a large extent. Perhaps, then, the unsealing of all the prophecies was dictated near the end of the first century. It may appear to be an early date for “the time of the end” to begin, but the phrase, “the time is at hand” lends credence to the idea that the time had come when these things could begin to be understood. Some students believe that “the time of the end” began with this utterance, and stretches to our present day. I am of that personal persuasion.

Now, what happened at that time?

Military action by the King of the South against the King of the North is indicated, which leads to a disaster for the former. Consideration of the historical facts, I believe, will make it readily apparent that the date of this action is 1517 AD. Egypt, King of the South at that time, being in control of Palestine and Jerusalem, indeed “pushed (northward) at” the Ottoman power, which had control of Damascus and Syria.

As Egypt attacked the Ottomans, disaster overtook the Egyptians when their Sultan was killed in fighting near Damascus. Without any effective leader, the Egyptians fled in disarray southward, through Palestine, toward Egypt. The Ottomans pursued the Egyptians with fervor and with huge numbers of troops. Its navy threatened Egypt proper. No fighting of significance occurred in Palestine on their way southward. The Ottomans, when they had overrun Jerusalem, in 1517, became the last King of the North almost by default. In other words, Jerusalem and Palestine was not their real goal, but in “passing over” that land, they had come into possession of it.

With the Egyptians leading the rout, the Ottomans chased them all the way to Cairo, where six months later, the Ottomans were victorious, conquering Egypt completely. The phrase “King of the South” is never again used in this or other prophecies. That entity has been eradicated as far as Jerusalem and Palestine are concerned.

The Ottoman troops had plainly “overflowed and passed over” Palestine, where historians tell us there was practically no fighting - merely pursuit of the Egyptians in wild, scattered commotion on their way to Egypt proper. Due to their positive presence in Egypt, the Libyans and the Ethiopians (Hebrew Kuwsh, the Sudan) also came under the Ottomans’ control. Verse 41 confirms this ...

Daniel 11:41 - “He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.”

What happened was this: the King of the North entered into the glorious land, and overflowed it and passed over it with little attention to it. Palestine was to him on that occasion a mere passageway to Egypt, but unimportant in its own right.

But many countries were overthrown. Egypt’s possessions in the north, Syria and Palestine, as well as Egypt itself, Libya, and Sudan were all overthrown and placed under tribute, which we shall soon see.

The most interesting portion of this verse tells of the “escape” of Edom, Moab, and most of the children of Ammon. Historians tell us that these three areas, south of and east of and northeast of the Dead Sea, were sparsely inhabited by Bedouins who were naturally anarchic and practically uncontrollable. The Ottomans never did exercise its hegemony over these specific areas during their occupation between 1517 and 1917, because it was not worth the effort. Beyond these areas lay the trackless wastes of the Saudi Arabian peninsula, which was also worth little to them as well.

Daniel 11:42 - “He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries; and the land of Egypt shall not escape.”

“Stretching forth his hand” upon the countries mentioned above means he exercised hegemony (control) over them by force of his threat to their existence if they did not pay tribute and comply with his wishes. The land of Egypt, indeed, did not escape, for it was conquered and also placed under tribute to the Porte of Constantinople.

Daniel 11:43 - “But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.”

His “power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt” is the prophet’s way of saying that the Ottomans would now begin to extract from Egypt its precious treasures and its liquid capital. That is what happens when a nation is placed under tribute; the threat is, if they don’t pay the tribute, then their overlords will return and obliterate them! It’s a pretty strong reason for continuing to pay any tribute which is demanded! Notice the almost benign language applied to Libya and Ethiopia, who were to “be at his steps,” that is, at the feet of the king of the north, i.e., in subjugation to him, although not even occupied by his forces! These were also severely threatened by the Ottomans if they did not toe the mark and pay their tribute.

Daniel 11:44 - “But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.”

For about 396 years the Ottomans’ control over Egypt and their neighbors went fairly smoothly. Nothing much happened. In one year the Ottomans nearly doubled the tribute on Egypt to 720,000 Pounds sterling and the levy was willingly paid by Egypt! Even after Britain arrived in Egypt to protect its interest in the Suez Canal, the Turks continued to be paid this tribute - even until 1917! Those years are ignored in the prophecy, which now jumps right to the next relevant events.

In the beginning years of World War I, Turkey’s Ottoman government joined with the Central Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Yugoslavia, etc., in their war against the Allies. It was an extremely bad choice. For nearly a century, the weakness of the Ottomans, who controlled the countries mentioned as well as the valley of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers down to the Persian Gulf, was reflected in the appellation, “the Sick Man of Europe.”

Britain’s expeditionary forces in Africa were now headquartered in Cairo. A new commander had just been assigned to head that force - General Edmund Allenby. Allenby was later commanded to drive northward into Palestine and Syria in parallel with British forces which had entered the Euphrates valley at the Sha’at al-Arab, the estuary of the Tigris/Euphrates river systems on the Persian Gulf, and had taken the Ottoman stronghold near the Gulf.

These tidings out of the east (east, relative to Jerusalem, not to Constantinople, as in the entirety of Daniel 11) were alarming to the Porte, who now recognized an extreme threat from that force. In addition, T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) was busily organizing the Bedouin of the Saudi peninsula into an Arab irregular cavalry force mounted on camels, with which to harass the eastern fringes of Ottoman operations in Palestine from Amman to Aqaba in the territory of the “escaped” regions of Edom, Moab and most of Ammon!

These tidings out of the east were troublesome enough, but were not all the Porte’s problems. The Germans and other allies of the Ottomans were being slaughtered in Europe and could not send reinforcements to assist him in his southeastern regions of Palestine, Syria and old Assyria (Iraq). Together, these were the troubling tidings out of the east and north. Therefore, the Porte did what he could, with vigor!

Anticipating trouble from Allenby and Lawrence’s Arabs, he vigorously moved his 7th and 8th armies into Palestine and established a strong military presence there for the first time (before that, only administrative police inhabited the region). Remember that Edom, Moab and most of Ammon were never under his control.

He determined to try to prevent any movement of British forces into Palestine. The language of the latter portion of this verse indicates an entirely different complexion on his 1915 presence from his 1517 presence in Palestine. In contrast to his earlier “passing over” the land, this latter stance is warlike, fierce and aggressive, which is in character with the last phrases of this verse 44.

Daniel 11:45 - “And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.”

We must point out here a serious discrepancy in the AV wording of this verse. As it reads in the AV, we can think of no other location for “the tabernacles of his palace” than Jerusalem, which is precisely “between the seas (the Med and the Dead) in “the glorious holy mountain” of Zion. The RSV is a translation truer to the original, and changes the picture entirely. Its rendering is “He shall pitch his palatial tents between the sea and the glorious holy mountain ...” The phrase palatial tents refers to his military headquarters. Moffatt’s translation is even more definitive in this area: his phrase is “pitching his royal pavilions between the Mediterranean and the sacred hill so fair!”

This is a decisive change. Does it fit what the Ottomans did at the time?

Yes! It does!

The Porte’s forces established field headquarters for their armies at an accessible location on the coastal plain of Palestine, not at Jerusalem in the remote, mountainous central highlands. Their headquarters were established at Ramle, just outside the southwestern suburbs of what is now Tel Aviv-Yafo! Precisely between the Mediterranean and the sacred Hill of Zion! The verse could have no more perfect a fulfillment! You see, the AV misleads us into thinking it means some kind of structure relating to the King of the North’s residence, or base of authority, AT JERUSALEM. No! It really refers to his military headquarters; that was established at Ramle.

That takes care of the first half of the verse. The greatest concentration of Turks, and their military headquarters, was on the coastal plain near Tel Aviv!!

What did Allenby do?

In a brilliant feint to the east, he brought people into the Jordan valley near Jericho and set up dummy airfields, complete with dummy planes, a huge army encampment with tents, trucks and equipment -- all just mock-ups of the real thing; but good enough to deceive the few Turkish observation planes which viewed it all! Meanwhile he moved his armies across Suez and approached Tel Aviv along the coast from Gaza. While the Turks had diverted much of their forces toward the east - to counter the simulated British forces at Jericho - he took Jerusalem, and drove them out of Ramle northward, toward Megiddo.

Meanwhile, Lawrence, with his Arab irregulars had taken Aqaba and now drove north through the “escaped” territories of Edom, Moab and Ammon (Amman) and cut the eastern branch of the Turkish railway which ran from Afula (near Mt. Tabor, in the Galilee) to De’ra. The Turkish escape via rail was cut off.

The Turks faced Allenby at Megiddo in yet one more massive battle on that great, superb, level battlefield known in Greek as the Jezreel, and lost royally to the British forces. They were routed northward along the Lebanese coast into Syria and eventually back to the Anatolian peninsula from whence they had come. Lawrence and his Arab force arrived at Damascus before Allenby. The victory had been decisive!

On December 9, 1917, Allenby had come to Jerusalem. Without firing a shot, because the Turks had fled the city toward the north, he entered the city walking, his campaign hat over his heart, and was said to have uttered the phrase, “This day I have fulfilled prophecy,” as he entered it!

And indeed, Allenby had, that day, fulfilled prophecy: Daniel 11:45. The Turkish Ottoman, this last in the long line of Kings of the North, had come to his end with none to help!

As a result of these British actions, the power which had controlled the Euphrates valley for these hundreds of years, had been forced back inside its lair. The Ottomans had returned to Turkey, never again to overflow their neighbors again. Their power had been “dried up” by the British victories in their eastern provinces, and the way had been opened for “all the trees” of Jesus’ Olivet prophecy to spring up. These, in another figure, were “the kings of the east” of Revelation 12! A “king” headed nearly every new Arab principality, which sprung up after the Ottomans were removed. Those which were not, were headed by Sheiks, which are essentially the same thing - leaders with absolute and despotic control over their subjects.

However, the British conquerors of what was then called Palestine could not be called the King of the South.

Why so?

Because Britain did not take this action because it wanted the land of Palestine for its own possession, but was in a real sense conquering it for a Homeland for the Jewish people of the world! Even though that may not have been in the mind of every British officer who fought for Palestine, that was God’s destined purpose for the land, and this was the first visible steps toward the resumption of the accomplishment of His eternal purpose.

Therefore, Britain is not called the King of the South. After the latest King of the North manifests himself and defeats the (Egyptian) King of the South, there is no more reference to the latter. Instead, the Dispersion of Israel was concluding. The Diaspora would now diminish and the population within The Land would steadily gain! Only three weeks before this date, The Balfour Declaration had proclaimed Britain’s favor toward Palestine as an homeland for the Jewish people. Later, Britain reneged, but that did not change either the symbolism or the purpose of the Almighty!

And thus ended the momentous prophecy of the “Times of the Gentiles” – a name given the period by the Lord Jesus Himself in Luke 21:24, as he stood mourning Jerusalem on Olivet’s western slope that evening in 29 AD only hours prior to His personal Sacrifice on the tree at Golgotha. The period had its beginning in 604 BC, when the First Temple was overthrown and destroyed by Babylon. It ran through seven periods of 360 years each - seven years of years - until 1917 AD, when the 2520 years expired and the Captivity of Israel began to be reversed.

The period had experienced an abrupt beginning in 604 BC, after years of preparation. Its end came likewise in one day, beginning several years of the transition to Jewish sovereignty over Jerusalem through a period of much tribulation with their neighbors, and, indeed, with Britain’s Mandatory government, which later decided it would not be in Britain’s best interests to establish a Jewish state there!

God’s plan was immutably destined to be otherwise, however, and He brought it to a successful conclusion, NEVER TO BE REVERSED by any man nor nation.

Now - a word to the prudent and wise. With this perfect fulfillment of the last end of the King of the North, put him out of your prophetic conscience, except as a reminiscence, or as concrete proof that our Almighty Father conspicuously fulfills prophecy before our eyes, with absolute perfection, expecting us to recognize it and acknowledge it. Otherwise our expectations will be muddy and unclearly focused. Do not confuse the King of the North with another king FROM the “uttermost parts of the north” who is also destined to come upon “the mountains of Israel” – the host of Gog of the land of Magog, chief prince of Meschech and Tubal, as foretold in Ezekiel 38-39.

We aren’t there yet in historic time. But the termination of the King of the North has rolled over from the prophetic literature into that of history, and we should fully and readily recognize it.” [End of excerpt from TPL, May/June, 1996]

Conclusion

In part 1, I suggested 20 reasons why the king of the north in Daniel 11:40-45 appears to be a different power from Gog in Ezekiel 38. These reasons are summarized as follows:

1) The contexts are different.

2) The king of the north attacks at a different time than Gog.

3) The attacks of both powers are for different purposes.

4) Both powers meet different fates.

5) Gog is destroyed immediately, but the king of the north is not.

6) The entire host of Gog is destroyed, but nothing suggests the king of the north is entirely

destroyed.

7) The reasons for their fates are different.

8) There is no mention of the king of the south (or a southern attacker) in Ezekiel 38.

9) The nations associated with Gog are completely different or appear in different contexts

than the nations associated with the king of the north.

10) The geographical “north” references are not the same.

11) News comes from the north and east to cause a furious reaction in the king of the north, but no such news reaches Gog.

12) Ezekiel says that Gog has been spoken of by other prophets, but since Daniel came after Ezekiel, the king of the north could not be referred to as one of Ezekiel’s Gogian references.

13) Gog attacks when Israel dwells confidently. Nothing indicates that the king of the north invades Israel when Israel dwells confidently.

14) The Gogian host wants to take booty from Israel, but the king of the north wants to take booty from Egypt, Libya and Ethiopia.

15) Gog is pulled back from invading Israel, whereas the king of the north passes through Israel en route to Egypt, Libya and Ethiopia, and is not pulled back from Israel.

16) Gog is described as a guard to other nations, but the king of the north is never described similarly.

17) The king of the north plants palatial tents; Gog does not.

18) Christ appears to be on the earth and reigning in Israel when the Gogian host invades Israel, but there is no mention of Christ reigning in Israel when the king of the north passes through Israel.

19) The Jews appear to be wholly regathered in Israel when Gog invades, but not when the king of the north passes through Israel.

20) The resurrection occurs after the king of the north has attacked the king of the south, but the resurrection occurs before the Gogian host invades Israel.

Although some of these reasons on their own may not be compelling evidence, I suggest that when taken as a whole, they provide little doubt that the king of the north in Daniel 11:40-45 is not Gog of Ezekiel 38. I do not understand why anyone would have ever thought that these two prophecies were identical.

In part 2, I compared the seven “proofs” that the king of the north is identical to Gog and argued these proofs are not convincing; rather, they strengthen the case that the two prophecies are different.

In part 3, I reproduced an explanation from Bro. Harold Lafferty for the Ottoman interpretation of Daniel 11:40-45. He is not the only Bible student to arrive at this conclusion. Since each phrase in these verses can be perfectly explained by the facts of history, it is a plausible and convincing explanation for this prophecy. Brethren living in the nineteenth century would not have foreseen the fulfillment of Daniel 11:40-45.

If Daniel 11:40-45 is not parallel with Ezekiel 38 & 39, what are the implications? It means students of prophecy who hold to a prophetic framework that was developed in the 1850s have to revise it in accordance with the Scriptures, the facts of history, and current events.

Jonathan Farrar January 2011

End Notes:

1 Per the Septuagint.

2 The reference to ‘latter years’ in Ezekiel 38:8 may refer to the end of the more generic time period called the

‘latter days’ (as occurs in Ezekiel 38:16).

3 Hebrews 1:2 also contains the expression “last days” per the KJV. The Diaglott renders this verse, “God has spoken to us in various methods , to the fathers by the prophets, and in the last of these days spoke to us by a

Son.” It is not the same expression as found elsewhere in the New Testament.

4 Bill Yake, The Allies of Armageddon: A Historical Look at the Nations Identified in Ezekiel 38; unpublished manuscript.

5 See also point 15, in which Ezekiel 38:4 is an allusion to an Assyrian practice.

6 See A. Gelston (2002), “Some Hebrew Misreadings in the Septuagint of Amos”, Vetus Testamentum, 52(4), pp. 497-498.

The eTPL accepts articles by contributing authors from time to time. Publication of such articles does not necessarily imply full agreement with the author’s viewpoint, but we consider such contributions helpful for analytical discussion of various aspects of prophecy - Editor.

<HEL January 2011>

The e-Prophecy Letter

February 2011:

The 2300 Evening-Mornings of Daniel 8

Harold E. Lafferty

One of the most extensive and comprehensive prophecies in the Bible is that of Daniel 8. It is known to us as the Prophecy of the 2300 Days (Evening-Mornings) – or, The Sanctuary Cycle. The term of the prophecy extended from ancient time all the way forward to our own days – to 1967 – nineteen years after the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. In this article we intend to examine the prophecy thoroughly, and to establish its meaning with as much certainty as possible.

We begin by transcribing and commenting upon the relevant passages from the Authorized Version of E-Sword.

Daniel 8:1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.

The time of this vision is near the end of the Babylonian Captivity of Judah. The prophet was about to see a vision concerning the successors of Babylon, which would be Medo-Persia and Greece.

Dan 8:2 And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.

Shushan is the king's palace at Babylon. Elam is the name then in use for the Babylonian province which would later become absorbed into Persia. The terminal year of Babylonian dominance was nearing; the conquest of Babylon by the Medes and the Persians was drawing near: Cyrus the Persian took the city in 539 BC. Belshazzar was the last king of Babylon – the one who, you remember – was given his termination notice by the detached hand, writing on the wall of his banquet hall the words Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin – “Thou art weighed in the balances and found wanting.”

Dan 8:3 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and he two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.

Later we shall find that this ram represented the successor to Babylon – the Medo-Persian empire – the higher horn representing Persia, the stronger of the two factions, which succeeded the Medes.

Dan 8:4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there anythat could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.

The Medes and the Persians were exceptionally strong and savage. They expanded their empire rapidly and widely. Their kings accomplished whatever they wished and Persia became great.

Dan 8:5 And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goathad a notable horn between his eyes.

This “he goat” came from the west – from Macedonia/ Greece – and its champion was Alexander the Great, one of the great military geniuses of all history, who is represented by the NOTABLE horn between his eyes. Horns, in scripture, are symbolic of strong powers. Greece was militarily so nimble it seemed to fly – to “touch not the ground.”

Dan 8:6 And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.

Alexander attacked Persia initially at the River Granicus in 334 BC, a river of Turkey near Troy which flows into the Sea of Marmara located between the Bosporus and the Dardanelles.

Dan 8:7 And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.

Eyewitness accounts of the Battle of the River Granicus are graphic in their description of the aggressiveness of the Greeks. Alexander himself – true to the practice of ancient kings – led his cavalry into action personally as the horsemen rapidly forded the river and approached the Persians confronting them on the east. Alexander is said to have discerned the Persian generals who were also at the head of their army’s southern flank, in a group of horsemen on the shore.

He led the deadly Greek horsemen in their classic wedge-shaped charge across the river, directly into their midst and killed two of the leaders of the Persians, one a relative of the king. He was so aggressive Alexander was at one point about to be killed by an axe-wielding Persian nobleman, but was rescued by one of his generals, Cleitus the Black, who delivered a death blow to the attacker.

The Persians were routed and with many of their leaders killed, retreated, but were pursued by the Greeks and many were slaughtered mercilessly. This was the initial victory in a long line of conquests of Alexander and his superb forces. Alexander came close to death on this occasion but did recover from the axe blow he had received. It was the palpable beginning of an awesome career as a military tactician at the head of his small but formidable army.

Dan 8:8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.

With magnificent understatement the text relates the following events; Alexander DID wax very great. But a few years later, after he had progressed eastward to the River Indus, he was persuaded by his army to stop his eastward advance. He brought his forces back to Babylon where Alexander is recorded as having died in 323BC while planning invasions of the Arabian Peninsula. His empire was divided among his four main generals, the four notable horns, which took control of the empire’s vast realms.

The subsequent account gives details of later history, including termination of the daily sacrifice and desecration of the holy place in Jerusalem by Rome in 70 AD. These details are not of particular interest in this study. The important fact is that this was the beginning of the period of 2300 evening-mornings (days), which equate to solar years in the calendar.

In verse 13, a conversation of two saints is presented: Daniel 8:13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? 14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

This 14^th verse gives the name to the prophecy: unto two thousand and three hundred days (after which) shall the sanctuary be cleansed: the Sanctuary Cycle thus was to be of 2300 days’ length. The question even among these Revelators was how long the vision was to require for fulfillment – how much historical time should the daily sacrifices of the Law and the “transgression of desolation” occupy? These were tantamount to giving both the host and the Sanctuary to be “trodden under foot” – or subdued by the enemies of the Lord.

Simplified, the question was how long should it be until some tangible, palpable advance in Israel’s fortunes should be realized and the Sanctuary be ‘cleansed?’ Or, when Israel should again take physical possession of the “Sanctuary.”

2300 literal 24-hour days would pass without any such progress. So we may easily recognize by fulfillment of the prophecy what specifically was indicated by that wording. The prophecy would actually require two thousand three hundred YEARS for fulfillment! – the familiar application in prophecy of “a day for a year.” How discouraged should Daniel and his companions have been if they had known that they would have to wait that long?

Dan 8:15 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.

Dan 8:16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.

Now we meet the archangel Gabriel, who appears to explain the vision to Daniel.

Dan 8:17 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.

This is the simple and direct answer to the previous question: it should be “at the time of the end” that the vision should be completed! It was still an indefinite date for Daniel, but at least it now had a label. Then we learn that the vision was to be “shut up” or made inscrutable – and that its term would be “for many days.”

Dan 8:26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.

Dan 8:27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.

The impact of the vision was so severe that Daniel fainted, and was ill for several days. Soon he recovered and went about his business, but tells us that he was “astonished” at the vision, and that “none understood it.”

We are privileged to understand the vision more perfectly than Daniel, but only by having lived beyond the fulfillment of its terminal year. As witnesses to its end, we can look back at its term and understand it much more fully. This does not mean that there are not mysterious facets of it which we may not yet understand.

Dan 8:18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.

Some have conjectured that the deep sleep of Daniel was equivalent to saying that he should go into the death state and sleep for some indeterminate time, then be resurrected, or “set upright,” at the last day. We believe this a valid explanation of this scene – that Daniel would be alive in the resurrection when the Sanctuary should be ultimately cleansed.

But, at the same time, we easily discern that the process of cleansing the Sanctuary would begin much earlier than Daniel’s resurrection – PRIOR to the final episode, at the time of the literal end of the 2300 evening-mornings (“days”).

The detailed explanation given by Gabriel goes into detail which is not relevant to the present discussion. The important fact is that he had defined the ultimate length of the prophecy.

We now determine that end point with exact calculations, as follows:

The he-goat with one notable horn attacked the ram with two horns at the River Granicus in the spring of 334 BC, stated by earlier scholars to have been June 7^th.

We lapse the date forward 2,300 literal years (on the day for a year principle of prophecy) and find that at the year zeroBC/zeroAD, 334 years have elapsed. As the changeover is not two years but actually one, we subtract one year from the 334, resulting in 333 elapsed years to 1AD.

Now, 2,300 minus the adjusted 333 years is equal to 1967 – or the monumental year of 1967 AD: the PRECISE YEAR AND DAY (June 7^th) in which Israel annexed Jerusalem and the Temple Mount to its holdings never to relinquish them again!

What a spectacular event!

The extremely long prophecy of the 2,300 morning-evenings had fulfilled PRECISELY as foretold by the Almighty through the prophet Daniel. For the first time since Daniel’s era the Temple Mount – the site of the Temples of Israel which had been destroyed – was back in the sovereign hands of Israel! The prophecy had terminated on the EXACT DAY it had specified 23 centuries before!

This was the “official” terminus of the Sanctuary Cycle. The Sanctuary site was now securely and eternally back in the hands of Israel. But men – leaders, “shepherds” – are not always attuned to what is expected of them. General Moshe Dayan, the one-eyed Israeli leader who brought about that victory, was secular (not ‘religious’) so was not aware of the final destiny of Temple Mount (more likely was aware of the prophecy but didn’t believe it). Being anxious to keep the peace with the Muslim religious authorities, Dayan gave the oversight of Temple Mount to the local Waqf – the Moslem religious overseers – to control and administer!

It was a dire mistake; but did it take the Almighty by surprise?

No! It did not.

For He foreknew that Dayan would make this ‘mistake,’ so we easily perceive a ‘soft beginning’ to the process of the cleansing of the Sanctuary. The process was here given its foundation and its impetus toward total fulfillment, which lies yet some time in the future era.

We can easily conjecture exactly how this process shall work itself out – how Israel shall in the near future overthrow the Waqf and its granted authority, and take the Temple Mount physically for its own use.

The process is not expected to be a simple one, but hinges entirely upon the timing of the Almighty One, Who shall send His Son to fulfill this task at the time appointed.

In the first place, since the year 1967, when the Sanctuary Cycle reached its terminus, the Arabs of the Waqf have been jealously protective of the Temple Mount, even claiming that the Jews never had possession of it at any time in past history – a mark of the most abysmal ignorance of their ‘historians.’ They claimed just recently that the Temple Mount had been in Muslim hands for all time; that the Jews had never maintained any presence there! They conveniently omit to acknowledge – to actively deny – that Israel was in Jerusalem over 1500 years before Mohamed was even born!

So, as stated, these statements belie all the facts of history. They are lies of the first order. But the character of these statements comply with common Arab custom – that any statement whether true OR false, becomes truth by their utterance!

Well, it isn’t truth!

The Muslim ‘god’ (Allah) is in no way equivalent to the Almighty Hebrew God – the uncreated Creator, the One in whom all men “live and move and have their being” as attested by the Apostle Paul at Mars’ Hill in Athens (Acts 17: 28). Allah is a simple stone idol around seven inches tall, and was one of 360 similar idols inhabiting the Ka’bah from which Mohamed selected it to be ‘the one true god’ of Islam. He discarded the other 359 idols and venerated ‘Allah the moon god.’ Islam is a mythic continuation of the ancient worship of the moon god, who was married to the sun god; their children were the stars.

Arab pilgrims surround the Ka’bah in Mecca, site of the Black Stone of Mecca…

They are worshipping the moon god, “Allah.” Here he is!

So for nearly fifteen centuries the blind Muslims have been led by the blind (also deaf, mute, and senseless) diminutive carved stone idol of their founder’s irrational and demented mind!

The precise fulfillment of the Sanctuary Cycle to the very day, gives us immutable reason to put our trust in the Almighty, the God of Israel, and His Omnipotence. There is no alternative answer for the profound accuracy of prophecies such as that of the Sanctuary Cycle, or the 2300 evening-mornings.

We wait patiently for progression in this ‘soft’ fulfillment of the prophecy, awaiting the final cleansing of the Sanctuary which shall be, in our studied opinion, the utter destruction of the Dome of the Rock as well as the Mosque Al-Aqsa on Temple Mount, obliterating any trace of Muslim presence or influence on God’s holy hill.

Shall this result from an act of sabotage by Israeli interests? (It is surely possible!) Or, shall it stand defiantly as abomination before God in His holy place until the great earthquake of Christ’s Second Advent? We cannot be sure, as no information is extant, except that the great earthquake which splits the Mount of Olives east to west, and elevates the Mount and the City of Jerusalem will surely be the ultimate demise of these pagan shrines if nothing previously destroys them.

Ordinarily, the wrath of the teeming millions of Islamic adherents would deter sabotage by any rational human being or agency. But an earthquake is another matter (although it will doubtless be attributed to the genius of Israel by the Arabs!) and the destruction will be irreparable. That site, where stood the Holy of Holies in Solomon’s and Christ’s days, will then be elevated and flattened, readied to accept construction of the gigantic, splendid, and spectacular Temple of Ezekiel’s Prophecy (cf. Ezekiel 40-48) – the Temple of God’s House, a House of Prayer for all people (Isaiah 56:7).

The summary of Daniel’s revelation is given in the last two verses of Daniel 8:

Dan 8:26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.

Dan 8:27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.

The vision therefore awaits its absolutely final end – that is, the Second Coming of the Lord from heaven, “Whom the heavens must receive until the times of the restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouths of all His holy prophets, since the world began.” (Acts 3:21)

That time is still unknown to us at present, but is absolutely certain to come!

<eTPL February 2011 HEL>

God’s Immutable Promise to Israel Today

February 2011

Harold E. Lafferty

Isaiah 54:17 - No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

As we behold with concern the deepening plight of Israel today – the threats from their enemies both internal and external, both near and far, innumerable in number, wealthy beyond comprehension, rabidly intent upon her destruction, we see an increasingly bleak picture; we wonder how long it will be until some ‘insult’ to Islam brings all these terrors upon Israel from all quarters and all at one time.

Happily, the picture is only bleak from an entirely human perspective. Their Divinely appointed destiny is very bright indeed – full of hope and great expectation for God’s people.

Fortunately we and they have firm reassurance from God’s unchangeable word given through His inspired seers of old – all of them in complete harmony with the opening quotation. All are words which comfort and reassure His people of His protection and mercy in these last days, in this time when their iniquity shall have its end, as in Ezekiel 35: 5, where He addresses Edom – one of these numerous enemies – telling them of their coming destruction – because thou (Edom: the “Palestinians”) hast had a perpetual hatred, and hast shed the blood of the children of Israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time that their iniquity had an end.

This is the precise state in which we find His people this day; being progressively regathered to their Land in vast numbers, for their final redemption, but under consistent threat of extinction. As the Father’s chosen people, many promises have been made to Israel; ALL shall be fulfilled.

Again, the reassurance of Isaiah: No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. Isaiah 54:17. Please note that in this message, the Almighty considers Israel OF TODAY, ‘RIGHTEOUS.’

How can this be true?

May I suggest that it is directly due to a vast number of His people having ‘returned to Him’ by having returned to His Land? Having done so, this initiative constitutes their first positive move toward reconciliation with their Father as attested by Malachi 3:7: Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.

The subject of Israel’s “return” is also addressed in Micah 5: 2: But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. 3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.

These words clearly indicate that after the nation has been re-established, “the remnant” of Christ’s brethren shall RETURN unto the children of Israel.

What can this mean?

We may easily determine its meaning!

Micah’s prophecy assures that when “she which travaileth hath brought forth” THEN Israel shall return to some designated place. We easily determine that place simply by inspection of their movements. That place is the Covenanted Land – that promised inheritance of the children of Israel; we have seen that immense numbers of them have returned to the LAND of the children of Israel – to Zion itself – in direct fulfillment of these words. Since this return has been and IS NOW STILL BEING fulfilled before our eyes we do not have to guess at its meaning.

And we also do not have to suppose that the people in so doing are returning to their Almighty God in reality! Jerusalem is the place where He has placed His name eternally; to Jerusalem (and the nation represented by it) they have returned as a preliminary move to their final conversion to His truth! The process is inevitable. It is certain, since it is the immutable will of the Father. The correlation is perfect. To put some other construction on it is clearly not justifiable.

Now … these words penned by Isaiah (in chapter 54) reveal a level of benevolent protection for God’s people WHO HAVE RETURNED TO THE LAND that is not afforded any other people or nation – not even Jews in Diaspora. Their having come back to their Land is the first step in their “returning” to Him. These servants of the LORD are clearly Israel restored to their Land in the latter days. The context of the chapter unmistakably tells the reader that it is a prophecy for the Endtimes.

For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment [through the centuries of their dispersal and especially during the Holocaust]; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. Isaiah 54: 7, 8.

The essential meaning of this comforting passage is that in the day of God’s favor to Israel (today, and into the infinite future), the severity of their years of hardship and servitude will fade from their recollection; their consciousness shall be only that of His ‘everlasting kindness.’ Verse 4 shows this to be true: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.

The text of this chapter is remarkably current in its overall message. The promise is one of deliverance from their enemies; it includes deliverance from fear and from terror – the contemporary scourge of the people of God.

In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. Behold, they [their oppressors, the terrorists] shall surely gather together, but not by me [not brought upon them by the Almighty, as He had brought the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and the Romans]: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. Isaiah 54:14, 15.

We can see in these wonderful words that terror should indeed come upon them, but NOT BY THE HAND OF THE ALMIGHTY – and that the oppressors’ “fall” is inevitable.

His blessing upon them is effusive and gracious:

Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall he be called. Isaiah 54: 2 – 5.

Perhaps you are aware as this writer is aware of a currently circulated and most grave error which declares that Israel is destined to be overrun by the Gogian host of Ezekiel 38 and 39, and again dispersed into the nations. The proponents of this ‘theory’ are palpably contradicting the God of Israel, Who in those chapters reveals NO VICTORY of Gog and its hosts whatsoever. In so doing they are actually falsely prophesying a grave curse upon God’s people that the prophets of God do not support! In other words, that prophecy is of their own making; it does not come from the Almighty!

The vast Gogian hordes which come to the Land as ‘clouds’ to cover it, intent upon taking a spoil, only meet death and utter destruction upon the mountains of Israel, and inherit graves at a future location ‘in Israel’ to be named Hamon-gog.

Read Ezekiel’s words objectively! Believe them!

This is also the unassailable message of Isaiah: that their enemies of the Endtime shall inevitably fail to conquer or oppress His people anymore; that their schemes shall utterly fail, and their ambitions are destined to be crushed to pieces under the Rock of their Salvation … that Cornerstone upon which His people stumbled in ages past!

From time to time, critics arise objecting to our determined partisanship with God’s people. They are filled with fear and consternation that any voice of support for Israel is somehow not pleasing to the Father for the reason that Israel is at present a generally unbelieving people – a people who largely deny the Son-ship and Messiah-ship of Jesus Christ (there are a few exceptions).

Yes, that is Israel’s nemesis – their failure of recognition of their Savior. But is this a surprise to the Almighty? Not at all! That is the reason for his careful insertion of the prophetic narrative in Zechariah 12 and 13 depicting their hearty acceptance of Him at a certain time ahead – in the future day of their liberation from their enemies! These words are for OUR enlightenment, so that our support for His people will not flag or decline in these evil times when Israel is denigrated by the entire world, delegitimized, condemned, and put down.

He shall bring His liberation to them at His own volition – and out of regard for His holy name, and His own integrity! I do not this for your sake as he proclaims in Ezekiel 36:22: Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.

Because the Almighty has promised to restore them to their land and redeem them, He shall accomplish it – even though they deserve no such bounty. No … it isn’t perhaps the way we would do things, I admit; but we must not question His judgments for we know not His mind. He is Spirit; we are flesh. He is infinite; we are not so. Just think of this: He has exercised precisely the same mercy upon each one of us! We are similarly not worthy of His grace; but we are surely thankful for it, are we not?

Everyone is a critic of Israel. It is not restricted to some of our own number. Recent pronouncements of the Church of Rome have made the headlines, which are far afield from the opinions of huge numbers of ordinary citizens of the USA. An archbishop made the arrogant claim recently that Israel has NO CLAIM to “Palestinian lands” and must end its “occupation” of them! The following narrative discusses this incredible opinion from a man who, it would seem, should really know better.

Vatican Assault on Israeli “Occupation” of Arab Lands

Maybe you have heard of this outrageous statement from Vatican City: Just as one might expect from Biblically unschooled critics of the Jewish State, a prominent Catholic bishop at the Vatican called for the international “community … to put an end to the occupation” of Palestinian territories. A two-week-long Synod on Church Affairs of the Middle East resulted in the gathering largely blaming the region’s political problems in general and those of its “Christian population” in particular squarely on Israel’s shoulders.

It is pervasive, ongoing evidence of the church’s long-standing claims of Replacement Theology (or, Dominion Theology), in which the church claims that God no longer favors Israel but has given His election to the church! It is the apex of ignorance and arrogance! It parrots the “Palestinian” line of Israeli infractions of international law – which are as false as the beard of a Mall Santa.

According to a press release on November 3^rd from the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem (ICEJ), Media Director David Parsons reported,

“Archbishop Cyril Salim Bustros, who leads the Greek Melkite Church in the United States, went even further in comments on Saturday when introducing the Synod’s concluding “Message.” He insisted that it was “unacceptable” for Israel to take “recourse to biblical positions which use the Word of God to wrongly justify injustices,” a position taken directly from the Message itself. He also maintained that, “We Christians cannot speak of the ‘Promised Land’ as an exclusive right for a privileged Jewish people .... This promise was nullified by Christ.”

The “archbishop” knows not of what he speaks! The scriptures do not record such nullification by Christ, who often referenced the intimate relationship of Israel with Abraham to whom the Promises of the Land were exclusively given. The “archbishop” offered no proof for his statement and indeed CANNOT do so! Jesus did not repudiate even the corrupt Pharisees and the Scribes when they claimed Abraham as their father; but He did pointedly refer to their deviation from the FAITH of their fathers in the fraudulent and evil practices into which they had fallen.

Instead, the inspired writers of the New Testament verified the Jews’ position as the favored people of the Most High. The Apostle Paul directly denied the Almighty’s having forsaken Israel as he addressed Israel’s premier place in God’s plan in Romans 11:1 – I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot (know) ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? How he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, 3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. 4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. 5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. 7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded 8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. 9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a recompence unto them: 10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. 11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. 12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

It is readily apparent that the “archbishop” is either not familiar with these well-known words, or else he chooses to ignore their teaching. (2 John 1:10)

The promises that God made to Abraham were made ultimately to Jesus Christ, Who we are assured in Hebrews 13:8, is “the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” He has never abrogated His promises to all the forbearers of Israel – nor to their Seed, which is Christ (Galatians 3:16). Because His plan has seemed to “tarry” (Habakkuk 2:3) in its fulfillment, man's finite view is that the Almighty’s purpose has wavered – or been forgotten. But the Father of us all does not forget – or ever change His mind!

Paul continues his instruction as to Israel’s sure destiny in verse 26: And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. 27 For this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. 29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Verse 29 directly puts the lie to the “archbishop’s” statement! He is firmly telling every reader clearly that God CANNOT refuse to award any gift He has promised; He cannot “repent” of having given it; its bestowal is absolutely certain – in His own good time.

We see in these critical remarks the fierce disloyalty – yea, vehement denial – of some to God’s word – their denial of His faithfulness and His integrity, their inherent arrogance and self-aggrandizement. In doing so they ‘think to change … laws’ as Daniel foretold they would in Daniel 7:25: And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

The false ascendancy of such men is firmly repudiated, and dismissed by our Father. Not only has God not forsaken Israel; He has restored nearly six million of His people to His Land. His time of exonerating them is drawing nearer – that time recorded in Joel 3:16, when The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

Unfortunately, the reaction in that day of the apostates of the earth shall be the same as today – denial of God’s favor to Zion, and repudiation of his will for them. The solid truth is expressed in the prophets, typical blessings being similar to those of …

Ezekiel 36: 24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. 25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. 28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Are these inspired words of Ezekiel validation that Israel has no further connection to the Land? Of course not! They are vital and immutable proof that their future days shall be days of blessing and forgiveness – and national elevation in the first dominion of the kingdom of Christ Jesus in the earth! (Micah 4:8) Every sincere, objective, knowledgeable believer in Truth sees readily through this thinly false veneer of the church’s minions – their lies and deceptions which they constantly foist upon the generally ignorant population from their self-appointed bishoprics and priesthoods. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation. Isaiah 52: 7

<eTPL February 2011 HEL>

The e Prophecy Letter

January 2011

A Brief Study of the Prophet Joel

H. E. Lafferty

The prophet Joel by divine inspiration probably wrote the prophecies of the LORD at approximately BC700 – 698, immediately after the time of the Assyrian assault and conquest of Israel (the 10 tribes). His writings certainly address the future of Israel (Judah) as oppressed by the coming kingdoms of men. It is addressed to ‘all ye inhabitants of the Land.’ It was the time of the first assault by the nations which God had purposed to bring against Israel as punishment for their waywardness before Him, and their imminent expulsion from His land by “His army,” the fierce, irresistible Romans (see 2:11).

Joel's name means “Yahweh is God.” He was probably from the territory of Reuben – the Moabite country east of the Jordan, and prophesied to Judah, the two tribes. He may be the oldest of the Hebrew prophets. His prophecies extend from his own time to post-Advent days and tell of the glories of the kingdom age.

One commentator wrote this stunning summary of Joel: “It must be read through several times to grasp its vivid descriptions, the terse and solemn utterances, the full, smooth phrases, and above all the revelation it contains. His utterances are distinguished by the soaring flight of imagination, the originality, beauty and variety of the similes. The conceptions are simple enough, but they are at the same time bold and grand. The perfect order in which they are arranged, the even flow, [and] the well-compacted structure of the prophecy are all remarkable.” [Arno Clement Gaebelein, The Annotated Bible]

Joel, Chapter 1:

Joe 1:1 The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.

Joe 1:2 Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?

Joe 1:3 Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.

Joe 1:4 That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpillar eaten.

The four stages of the locust (the palmerworm, locust, cankerworm and caterpillar) are the four stages in the life cycle of the locust – the gnawer, the swarmer, the devourer, and the consumer. The clear symbol of the locusts development is that of the nations which would be the devouring powers sent upon them by God for their wickedness.

These were the forces of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome, the destiny of the first being to destroy Solomon’s Temple and take the people to Babylon, and that of the last power being the destruction of Herod's Temple and dispersal of the Jews to all the nations in the horrendous defeat of Judea in the war of AD 70-73.

Joe 1:5 Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.

Joe 1:6 For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.

Joe 1:7 He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.

The vine as well as the fig tree are symbols of Israel, God’s people (cf. Hosea 9:10). This sentence reflects the desolate condition in which His destitute people were left for millennia.

Joe 1:8 Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.

Joe 1:9 The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the LORD; the priests, the LORD'S ministers, mourn.

This narrative points forward to destruction of both the Temples in Jerusalem. The Temple service is cut off and the Abomination of Desolation then stands “in the Lord’s House.” Jesus has nailed to the Tree of Golgotha the Law of Moses, thus fulfilling it.

Whether the Jews recognized it or not, the Law is from that point no longer valid for worship.

Joe 1:10 The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth.

Joe 1:11 Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.

Joe 1:12 The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.

Joe 1:13 Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.

The result was to be that “the meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the Lord,” and that Israel’s worship in the temple is ended by its destruction. This is termed “the day of the Lord … a day of destruction from the Almighty” (1:15), which indicates that it was the Lord’s will, and by His personal agency, that these great interruptions came upon her.The scene of utter desolation is depicted in the last seven verses of chapter one.

Joe 1:14 Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD,

Joe 1:15 Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.

Joe 1:16 Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God?

Joe 1:17 The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered.

Joe 1:18 How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.

Joe 1:19 O LORD, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field.

Joe 1:20 The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.

Joel, Chapter 2:

Joe 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

If this chapter has primary reference (as we think it does) to 70AD, the "day of the Lord" is that well-known assault on Judea. There are several "days of the Lord" in scripture - not merely that of the Endtime. The Shofar alarm here is to war. The time was certainly a day of clouds and thick darkness, of thick darkness and gloom.

Joe 2:2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

Rome of iron was the aggressor; it fits the description given in this verse. Jerusalem’s outlook was bleak indeed. The city was utterly destroyed. The Temple was burned and the vessels stolen. The Arch of Titus in Rome depicts the Great Menorah among the spoils carried to Rome. The Temple Platform was deserted and a trash heap until the Muslims built the Dome of the Rock over the Holy of Holies in the 7^th century A.D.

Joe 2:3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.

This is an apt description of Rome's assault - savage, relentless, persistent and terribly efficient. There was never one like it since.

In verses 4 – 11, the language is easily applicable to "his army" in the punishment of His people in this terrible time. The fourth stage of the locust is now horsemen and chariots, siege machines and legions of infantry. They devour His people with awesome savagery.

Joe 2:4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.

Joe 2:5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.

Joe 2:6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.

Joe 2:7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:

Joe 2:8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.

Joe 2:9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.

Joe 2:10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:

Joe 2:11 And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

No force on earth could stop this mighty army of the Lord – this Roman titan operating on God’s terms and at His behest in order to destroy His city, and drive His people from their land because of their wickedness and apostasy – and for their stubborn refusal of their Messiah at His first appearance.

Joe 2:12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

This is the remedy that should have been adopted by the Jews of Judea. It would have been the direct opposite to their previous haughty attitude and deplorable level of service and devotion to God.

Joe 2:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

Heartfelt return rather than outward mourning is required. If they had done so they should have witnessed the great mercy of God.

Joe 2:14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?

Joe 2:15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:

Joe 2:16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

Joe 2:17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

This was the required remedy for the Jews; but they did not heed His warnings. They summarily rejected His Messiah at His first appearance. The crucified their Lord, and began an interminable period of languishing for His advent for two millennia.

But in the verses following, the Almighty leaps to the time in which His mercy and compassion shall be poured out upon them, having tired of their enemies’ tirades and aggression. He returns them to their land and blesses them abundantly.

Joe 2:18 Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.

Joe 2:19 Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:

This promise of a good outcome was available had His people obeyed Him. This promise and that of verse 19 promises prosperity and progress for His people when they obey. Their final vindication is foretold.

Joe 2:20 But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.

These words refer to a time in the distant future when they DO dwell in security and plenty as in verses 18 and 19: when Gog (the northern army) comes down upon Israel, Gog shall be so dealt with! It is a long-term prophecy of their ultimate deliverance from the forces of evil which shall attempt to enter into their Land.

Joe 2:21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.

We cannot escape the extreme irony of God's promise that it is THE LORD, not their foes, Who shall "do great things" - truly great!

Joe 2:22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.

Joe 2:23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

This language again takes the reader into the distant future, and well illustrates an abrupt change in climate in which physical rainfall shall be abundant; it also bears more spiritual overtones of great blessing of faith and spirit to the people whom He shall have recovered, as revealed in verses 28 and 29.

Joe 2:24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.

Joe 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

Joe 2:26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.

Even today a visitor to Israel can see the abundant beginnings of this great promise! Israel’s farmers produce far more crops than those needed to sustain their people; they are thus net exporters of agricultural products even today – in the midst of a severe water crisis. But this reality is only the beginning of the Land’s productivity which awaits that Dayspring from on High!

Joe 2:27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

It is certainly AT THIS TIME that Israel recognizes the Son ship and Messiah ship of the Returned Jesus. Their surprised recognition of Him is depicted in Zechariah 12 and 13 along with their earnest repentance and mourning for their earlier condemnation of Him.

Joe 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

Joe 2:29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

Joe 2:30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

Verses 22 - 30 illustrate a future time of safety and abundance for Israel, and a time of plenty for His people - restoration of their fortunes in far greater measure is indicated through verse 30. As a direct result of their repentance, and wholehearted acceptance of Him, He shall drench them with His Spirit without measure; Israel shall finally begin to fulfill its role as “a light to the Gentiles.”

Joe 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

The word here speaks of yet another "day of the Lord" - not the same as in earlier verses. In light of the verse following, this seems to occur in the Endtime - at the actual return of Christ. That day is not a day of darkness for Israel, however, for their repentance shall have brought them the abundant favor of the Lord Jesus. The dread of the Lord shall fall without mercy on His enemies, and their fate shall loom suddenly before their faces.

Joe 2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

This verse is a glorious summary of that day; it tells of the future time when those who DO call on the name of the Lord as admonished earlier, shall be delivered IN MOUNT ZION AND IN JERUSALEM, His Sanctuary. The promise is to "the remnant whom the Lord shall call." In this passage the Lord is certainly present with His people, and shall have delivered them.

Joel, Chapter 3:

Joe 3:1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,

This chapter starts with “…behold, in those days, and in that time,” meaning IN THE ENDTIME – specifically in OUR time, “when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem” – that is, when He is regathering His people for the second time (Isaiah 11:11) for their final redemption (Zechariah 12 -14). That can be ONLY today. He now narrates the concise details of the Endtime wars of Christ and Israel against “all nations.” Note that the text mentions “Judah” and not “Israel,” and “Jerusalem” as capital of the Jewish Polity.

Joe 3:2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

Here the prophet is dropping back to a time generally earlier than the closing verses of chapter two. The Valley of Jehoshaphat here is equated with the Valley of Decision (cf. verses 12, 14). Both names indicate pits of Judgment, which shall there be rendered to God’s enemies. In light of several other prophecies, these nations – termed “all nations” – are not all the nations of the world, but are all the nations “round about” Israel newly reconstituted in our day. These are those named specifically in Psalm 83, city-states and nations which comprise Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and those who identify themselves as “Palestinians” within and around Israel.

Their destruction is depicted thoroughly in prophecies such as Isaiah 63, Obadiah, Micah 5, Ezekiel 35, Isaiah 11, Psalm 63, and others. These are drawn down into the Valley of Jehoshaphat – also called the Valley of Decision – for final judgment and destruction.

The nature of this series of conflicts, when understood as the prophets have related them to us, shall be diffuse, widespread, and shall occur over some length of time which is indeterminate. It is to be fulfilled therefore, in my opinion, in many diffuse locations where the enemies of the Lord are soundly defeated one by one, mostly in their own homelands. Their lands and wealth are then taken into Greater Israel by the Lord Jesus Christ, completely in harmony with the account in Zechariah 14: 14 and others.

By reference to “the Valley of Jehoshaphat” I suggest that the Almighty is referring to that typical location depicted in the great victory of the Lord during Jehoshaphat’s reign when Edom, Moab and Ammon attacked Israel; II Chronicles 20. These were defeated out rightly, and all their wealth confiscated by Israel.

There is no location in Israel which at any time in the past is designated “the Valley of Jehoshaphat.” Some have supposed the Kidron Valley is meant here, but its environs are not sufficient to contain the forces which shall be involved in this intended struggle – pitched battles which shall be not only fought in many locations, but also shall be of long term.

I believe we can study the history of King Jehoshaphat and arrive at a reasonable conclusion as to the identity of this mysterious Valley; II Chronicles 20 gives a detailed picture of Moab, Ammon and Edom preparing a massive attack on Israel and her king, Jehoshaphat. When Jehoshaphat hears of the impending invasion he fervently prays to God for deliverance, knowing that his forces are not formidable enough to ward off the attack.

He musters his army after being reassured by God that Israel is safe. Jehoshaphat forms a group of singers who go ahead of the army singing praise to God and His glory. As these armies near the valley of Berechah (somewhere in the wilderness of Judea), Moab and Ammon turns against the army of Mt. Seir (Edom) and destroys it wholly; then they turn against each other and one smites the other so that they all die.

Israel spends three days gathering up the spoils of war – an incredible amount of booty – and “on the fourth day assembles its forces in the Valley of Berechah (blessing), for there they blessed the Lord.” It is likely that this is the mysterious Valley of Jehoshaphat (meaning, Jehovah judged) – the type – for here the Lord delivered Israel, which He shall do in these latter days (fulfilling the antitype) when their enemies are perceived to be too numerous for them to defeat. This is a time that seems rapidly to be approaching at the time of this writing.

Others have equated this showdown with the Proximal States with the Battle of Armageddon, and placed it in the Valley of Megiddo – the Plain of Jezreel – but not only is that venue also completely insufficient for the conflicts but is on the wrong continent!

Armageddon is mentioned only in Revelation 16: 16, and in this student’s opinion is an European affair of the showdown between the forces of Jesus Christ and the Roman Catholic Apostasy of the Beast, the False Prophet and the Harlot, a conflict we designate as Phase Three.

To “plead with them” is to defeat them utterly. All these proximal enemies of God and Israel (Psalm 83: 1-2) did help scatter Israel among the nations, and to ”part My land.” See Obadiah’s detailed description of the activities of Edom for adequate proof. Even today, these nations INTEND to do the same to Israel, but shall be completely powerless to do so because of the assistance of their Father in destroying them.

To PLEAD with them is specifically to JUDGE them in this typical Valley of Judgment (Strong H3381; to pronounce sentence – for or against; by implication to vindicate or punish); so will He vindicate Israel AND punish her enemies! For they are His appointed People and His select heritage “…whom they have scattered among the nations (the second exile, specifically, in 70AD and 135 AD – Bar Kochba’s Revolt), and parted my land.”

Have the Proximal Islamic states” parted My land?” Yes! Jordan accepted 78% of the British Mandate to be its own Palestinian nation in 1922 at the Treaty of Versailles, and others such as Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have demanded a state for the “Palestinians” on the remaining portion of the Land which is Israel proper today, and are still stridently demanding Judea, Samaria, Jerusalem, Gaza, and the Golan Heights – the remainder! In God’s eyes agreeing to a principal is the same as carrying it out!

Joe 3:3 And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.

Joe 3:4 Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head;

Verse 4 begins the narrative’s detailed summary of the action to be expected. It names three specific locations which are to bring “recompense upon His people – the Arab term is REVENGE, which they seek daily. Tyre and Zidon are in LEBANON. The coast of Palestine is the GAZA STRIP, home of the unhappy campers of Hamas, the vile and intractable enemies of Israel. God’s recompense shall fall upon them in return – but only in God’s good time. We wait. Tyre, Zidon and Gaza are hotbeds of Islamic hatred and vituperation against God’s people. They are typical of all the centers of contempt against Israel in the nations round about. Psalm 83 groups all these nations together; for that reason we must conclude that their punishment comes in or near the same time period.

Joe 3:5 Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things:

Joe 3:6 The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border.

Where are these infractions recorded? In secular history, doubtless, but in the plain words of Obadiah (verses 14-18).

Joel 3:5 and 6 also list some of the most heinous acts of any people against another. Again, the prophet Obadiah (verses 14 – 18) details these despicable acts, as well as certain secular historians. These peoples aided and abetted the Babylonians as well as the Romans in their adversity against Israel. In all these cases their goal was “that ye might remove them from their border.” The object of these enemies, of course, was to take the lands and villages of the Pleasant Land for their own possession.

Their specific aim, in league with especially the Romans, was to remove them far from their borders – to expunge them from their heritage; it was, however, due to the wickedness of Israel and Judah that God’s severe judgment came upon them. Nevertheless, since this was in line with the wishes of the proximal Arab communities they will be severely punished for these acts although they were the will of God - exactly similar to Pharaoh being held responsible for his judgmental actions upon Israel during the Exodus!

Joe 3:7 Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head:

Verse 7 continues the train of thought. God vows to return His people to their land in His own time, and to return these enemies’ recompense (revenge) upon their own heads. It will not be a pleasant issue!

Joe 3:8 And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken it.

Verse 8: Their aggression shall have its retribution – intensely and consummately. These estranged brethren of Israel shall have done to them all those things they have done to Israel. What was their motive? They coveted the good land of Israel for their own possession – the blessed land which God had promised to His people.

Joe 3:9 Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:

Joe 3:10 Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.

The watchword, Prepare war! is an indication of venerating war – of making war ‘holy’ as in Jihad! It is the hallmark of militant Islam of this day: “holy war” is their answer to any perceived insult of, or difference of opinion with, Islam. For the last seven decades the Muslims have beaten their plowshares into swords – arming for holy war against their enemy, the people of God.

Their aggression has not been effective, as the Lord has gone forth and fought against those nations as He fought in the day of battle (days of old). The boastful words “let the weak say I am strong,” are the watchwords of Hamas and Hezbollah in Gaza and Lebanon today. They regularly boast that they will wipe Israel off the map the next time they clash in warfare. But it cannot happen!

The “mighty men” are those who look upon themselves as “mighty.” But their fierce mien, their faces wrapped in scarves, heads bound with green bands, weapons boldly brandished, threatening slogans written on headbands, shouts of "Allahu Akbar!" (god is great) designed to frighten and terrify their enemies (perhaps more to hide their cowardly identities) really mean nothing. Their mouths have few teeth. Their ferocity is frightful to mere humans; but their boastfulness is nothing as they come to resist the power of the Spirit of God coming from the mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ! He has proclaimed that He shall “speak peace to the heathen,” which means to conquer them with nothing but the words of His mouth! In the presence of His power, the weak may say they are strong; but their boast is not factual in any way.

The Proximal Arabs use all available funds for implements of war – beating their pruning hooks into spears and their plough shares into swords! Their young and families are deprived of ‘aid’ given them by other nations out of pity for their hunger and they spend it immediately on implements of war, rockets, ammunition, explosives for suicide bombers, military vehicles, radar, and offensive weapons. The Gaza Strip is a huge fortress at the present time, devoid of Jews and rife with murderous Arabs pitted against Israel.

Joe 3:11 Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen (the unbelieving nations round about), and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.

Joe 3:12 let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

Verse 12 invites the heathen (nations) down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat – that Valley of Decision, or Valley of Judgment – in which these same peoples shall finally and eternally be judged by the Son of God;“For THERE will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.” “To come down” is to descend upon, to press or to lead on against the forces of the Lord. It is the call to Jihad, to self-sacrifice even of young children to defeat the Zionist ‘offender’ of Islam!

The following verses (13 – 15) summon the vision of reaping an harvest of grapes – grapes of wrath – gathering them into the vats of the Lord for trampling. The recipients of His wrath are “multitudes in the valley of decision.” The guiding lights – the sun, moon and stars of Islam – shall be extinguished forever!

Joe 3:13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.

Joe 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. Joe 3:15 the sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

The figure used for their defeat is the crushing of grapes of the harvest. The product is the wine of the fierceness of His wrath! The multitudes are about 160 million in total number, all of whom are seemingly destined for such destruction! It shall be a slaughter as yet unseen in the history of warfare. The conflict is here described as being ‘in the Valley of Decision,’ a parallel term to the Valley of Jehoshaphat already referred to.

The impending warfare is horrible to contemplate. Islam today is so fractured it can agree on almost no plan of action – except aggression upon Israel. Whenever its internecine factions which are so full of hatred even for their brethren, make up their differences to some reconcilable level, then their attention appears to turn upon Israel with some force of unity and these nations strike at Israel with a vengeance.

Whether their attacks shall be coordinated to be simultaneous is not clear from the prophecies. One element that does seem clear is that Edom (as related in Obadiah) is to be the initial strike, and it is stated at that time, in verse 21 … And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S. So I believe it simply logical to assume that Christ and the Saints are present throughout these final conflicts against the nations round about (Proximal Islam).

Joe 3:16 the LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

Verse 16 is definitive. It absolutely summarizes the action that is to take place here. Here is the picture of the Lord’s complete deliverance for Israel, His people! The days and nights of darkness foretell the utter demise of those enemies! The personal presence of Jesus Christ is clearly indicated here as He ‘utters His voice from Jerusalem.’ His presence is required here just as it is in Isaiah 63, where he is depicted as destroying the Islamists of the south, marching through them with blood-spattered garments.

Joe 3:17 So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.

Here is the blessed moment of enlightenment for Israelis in the Land. Their eyes shall behold His salvation as He roars out of Zion. Today many of them profess atheism, but in that day all those remaining shall fully realize that the Lord He is God and Savior of their nation! God’s Son, now having reappeared in the nature and purpose of His Father, shall then be enthroned upon Zion’s holy mountain, and Jerusalem shall indeed be ‘holy,’ or set apart for His eternal glory. After this time shall ‘no strangers’ pass through her anymore as armies of aggression have for so many centuries.

The resultant earthquake shall forever change the topography of the Land from Jerusalem outward. And His people shall recognize that “the Lord” is the hope of God’s people, and that He is the force and power of the Lord God dwelling in Zion, His holy mountain. Only then shall Jerusalem be “holy” in its fullest sense, as NO STRANGERS shall pass through her anymore.

Infidels will be allowed to roam freely there no longer; they shall have no claim to the lands. Islam and Orthodox Christians, Bahai' and pagans will be excluded, for the Lord shall be there and in process of instituting His gospel and His laws – and the infrastructure of His kingdom on the earth.

Verse 17: It is also definitive in this sense – this is the precise time at which Israelis come to recognize Jesus as Messiah, for “So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion, My holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.”

Joe 3:18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.

Verse 18 gives details of the coming halcyon days of Israel, the germinal kingdom of God. Finally the fierce enemies of Israel meet their destiny – dust and ashes – for their enmity against God’s people. The accusation that they “have shed innocent blood” in Israel’s land is an example of severe understatement in verse 19.

Under Messiah’s reign, the restored fertility and productivity of The Land shall be restored with great abundance. The long-dry wadis of Israel shall become flowing rivers of fresh, pure water resulting from the rains that shall regularly fall upon that blessed Land. The fruitful fields shall drop with produce. Cattle and sheep shall multiply abundantly. The desert shall truly blossom as the rose. The fountain of waters which issue from the Temple of the Millennium shall furnish life sustaining fluids for all the land so that even the valleys which formerly would sustain only shittim wood (the Acacia tree, which grows almost without moisture) shall then produce over abundantly. This information indicates a drastic change in the local environment of The Land.

Joe 3:19 Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.

Joe 3:20 but Judah shall dwell for ever and Jerusalem from generation to generation.

Joe 3:21 For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.

The events reiterated here are the beginning events of their deliverance and the time of the return of their Messiah with His Saints. This event happens only one time, and it is eminent to our day! Verses 20 and 21 spell out the final picture: “… Judah shall dwell forever and Jerusalem from generation to generation. For I will cleanse their blood (the meaning here is that He shall avenge their loss of lives) that I have not cleansed, for the Lord dwelleth in Zion.”

It shall be the definitive, utterly secure and peaceful future of Israel as it moves into the Millennial reign of Messiah, Who shall then have been restored to David’s throne in Jerusalem, reigning over his beloved and redeemed people in peace and righteousness.

The aggressive lands round about shall have been made a desolation and a wilderness for their aggression against God’s people, their murderous campaigns against innocent women and children and civilians of Israel, their ungodly demands for the holy places of Israel, their incessant jihad against God’s chosen people. (Later these lands shall be ‘healed’ and brought under Messiah’s covenant of Greater Israel.)

Now, Judah and Jerusalem shall be enveloped in perpetual and universal peace and security under the protection of Messiah and His Saints, never to be violated again. From generation to generation, peace shall dwell there, and a sanctuary for God’s people forever.

I believe this last verse (21) speaks to the final solution of the endless oppression of God’s people, in which He shall vindicate His people in spite of their unrighteousness. Isaiah wrote of this time in his chapter 59, verses 18 – 21:

“According to their (Israel’s enemies) deeds, accordingly He will repay, fury for His adversaries, recompense to His enemies; to the islands He will repay recompense. So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn aside from transgressions in Jacob, saith the Lord. As for Me, this is My covenant with them, saith the Lord: ‘My spirit that is upon thee, and My words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed,’ saith the Lord from henceforth and forever.”

This final result is seen as the ultimate mercy of God as exercised upon His people, as foretold in several passages in Isaiah, one of which is Isaiah 48: 9 – 11:

“For My name’s sake will I defer Mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee; that I cut thee not off. Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. For Mine own sake, even for Mine own sake, will I do it: for how should My name be polluted? And I will not give My glory unto another.”

[Note: Scriptural quotations herein are as downloaded from E-Sword, an electronic compendium of the Authorized Version of 1611.]

<HELafferty MD/USA January, 2011>

The eProphecy Letter

December 2011

Prophetic Timelines Part One

H E Lafferty

Critics of the Bible bluster against the word of God, claiming its being actually the mere thoughts of many various men who recorded a huge collection of fables and myths of the Jewish people compiled from handed-down stories from the ancient mists of time; they deny its authenticity at every turn and put forth learned theories of their own, modifying and denying God’s word in every conceivable way, substituting supposedly parallel (but different) historic accounts of other ancient peoples, especially when they disagree with God’s word. They often call forth opinions of sheer pagan philosophy to refute principles of the highest value expressed in His word.

There is one particular area of interest in which the critics fall on their own swords – one area of the Word which they cannot explain away by any possible means; so they largely ignore the Bible’s fulfilled prophecies, tending instead to favor the insipid, fuzzy, indeterminable predictions of Nostradamus in his famous Les Propheties of the mid-Sixteenth Century – a book of 100 French quatrains which have been interpreted in many ways by many scholars, mostly inconsistent with each other and all admittedly incapable of giving anyone the ability to expect any rational expectation of any concrete future event.

Michel de Nostredame: (14 or 21 December 1503 – 2 July 1566), usually Latinized to Nostradamus, was a French apothecary and reputed seer who published collections of prophecies that have since become famous worldwide. He is best known for his book Les Propheties (The Prophecies), the first edition of which appeared in 1555. [Wikipedia]

In sharp contrast are the prophecies of the Hebrew prophets as recorded in the Bible. Not only are they specific to future events – thus enabling diligent students to expect certain concrete future events, such as the return of Israel to its land in the Endtime (which is firmly attested as now fulfilled to the letter) – but also specific to further distant future events such as the certainty of his kingdom being established on the earth.

In the writings of the short prophet Habakkuk (2:23), we read a remarkable testimony to the mysterious but sure nature of Bible prophecy.

Allow me to quote it from The Jerusalem Bible for greater clarity: Write the vision down, inscribe it on tablets to be easily read, since this vision is FOR ITS TIME ONLY: eager for fulfillment, it does not deceive; if it comes slowly, wait for it, for come it will, without fail.

In this month’s eTPL offering I intend to begin a short series of articles nominating several such prophecies from God’s word and show the authentic reasons for determination that they have been fulfilled perfectly – and that such fulfillment is specifically for the enlightenment and edification of the saints and for their encouragement in otherwise dire times in history, but also stand written indelibly and irrefutably before scholarly men as witness to the omniscience of the Almighty.

These concrete Divine forecasts are vital generators of individual FAITH in His people, assisting them to “hold fast” to their precious faith. Comparing Christ and Moses, the writer to the Hebrews addresses this necessity; he tells us: Hebrews 3:5 - And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; 6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

As such, those strengthening and enlightening elements of His word are mostly or completely lost on UN-believers as well as MIS-believers. They cannot profit greatly from these wonderful prophecies from the mind of the Spirit. They are written specifically for the edification and instruction of the True Believer; otherwise they simply confound and mystify the critics in their attempt to de-legitimize and refute the inspired word of God. In His words we behold with awe His utter ineffability in foretelling the future with inerrant accuracy and force.

Further down in the following series, we shall additionally consider long-term prophecies which have NOT yet been fulfilled, and offer observations on these as well, and when possible, speculate on their order of fulfillment as based on scriptural revelations. In humility and with great appreciation, these commentaries are offered as standard, verified explanations of the prophecies considered.

Fulfilled Prophecies of Our Time

The Times of the Gentiles: Termination, 1917,

and Seven Times or 2,520 Years: 1917

Precis:

The Lord Jesus revealed that the “times of the Gentiles” would be “fulfilled” in Luke 21. That passage is comprehensive and complex; it contains many important facts embedded in a discernible, fairly transparent time-line of events. It speaks of the overthrow of Judah’s Commonwealth by the Romans in 70 AD (an obvious repetition of Babylon’s conquest of Judah in BC 606), and the dispersal of His people (this second time) to the four winds – and stipulates that these “days of vengeance” are to be the fulfillment of “all things which are written.”

Seven Times: Begins with Nebuchadnezzar overthrow of Judah, BC 606; it ends with Allenby liberation of Jerusalem from the Turks, AD 1917. Its term of duration is equivalent to The Times of the Gentiles.

Jesus’ words speak eloquently of His Father’s prescience of the exquisite and immutable details of all things future. They include His determined punishment upon His people, and the days of His vengeance upon His enemies: Luke 21:22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

His foreknowledge of the awful siege of Jerusalem even reveals horrible details of the Jews’ plight, both of infant and old men – and of their duress and affliction for ages to come. Furthermore, Jesus specifies that these troubles are specifically His Father’s “wrath upon this people” – His determined and expressed condemnation of them. Luke 21:23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

Whereas their first captive population was pointedly exported to ONE nation – to Babylon – this second dispersal should be to “all nations.” And Jerusalem should be trampled by the Gentiles until the “times of the Gentiles” should be ended. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Outworking of the Details

The Times of the Gentiles might be a fuzzy time-frame and still retain its significance to us as students of prophecy. But a concise fulfillment could afford greater appreciation, and engender more dedicated trust in the prophetic Word in each of His people. At the same time, the fulfillment should have little significance to the general populous of “the world” in darkness; they should not profit much from this esoteric revelation of the Master. It is a plainly-stated faith-booster for the faithful in Christ Jesus of the Endtime – the generation which should behold these events with their own eyes!

His indication of these “Times” logically began with the historically determined and well- documented overthrow of Judah’s Commonwealth in BC 606 by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The Ten Tribes of Israel (the northern kingdom) had been taken captive by Assyria over an hundred years before this time, so they are not indicated by this prophecy. Now the remnant of Israel (the Two Tribes) was taken away from being a nation – for a time.

Now, the Throne of David was to be overthrown and trodden down for a long period. The reason for that upheaval was that Judah had been consistently disobedient to God’s Law for decades, dedicating themselves to the heathen gods of the land, desecrating the Name of God in their transgressions, sacrificing their firstborn to Baal, committing adultery with the aliens which they had allowed to live among them. Yahweh’s patience was at an end. He would now bring His people into captivity for 70 years (Jeremiah 25: 11, 12).

So He called forth His army as in Joel 2:11 And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army (physically the army of Babylon in this instance): for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? As noted, HIS army (the Father’s army!), here, is the military might of Babylon, which shall have been caused to exercise His will upon them for their disobedience and unfaithfulness to Him.

At the end of that period of 70 years, precisely on time, Cyrus king of Persia decreed that the children of Israel might return to their homeland and rebuild Jerusalem and their Temple, which they did.

But a second captivity was determined upon them – one brought by Rome, in AD70.

At that time the people were enslaved and transported to the far-flung nations of the earth (the one third who survived the siege of Jerusalem). And so the “remnant” (ONE of those designated remnants throughout the long term), began its oppressive sojourn in The Diaspora for nearly 2,000 years, the fore-stated period coming to its end precisely at the termination of their long term oppression at the hands of the Gentiles.

Israel was destroyed and its people scattered first in BC 606; it was in a real sense regathered beginning with the ousting of the Ottoman Turk from its land in 1917, but continuing until even today. At that time, the Jews were assured of a place of refuge in God’s Land – and of eventual redemption after their return to it; the process would require some indeterminate time.

In Hebrew terms, a “time” is a period of years based on a day for a calendar year, or 360 years. The Times of the Gentiles, in retrospect, were SEVEN such periods – a time period which integrates with other prophecies to define the period during which their nation should be removed from its land without prospect for reinstatement in human terms.

From BC 606 until 1917 AD is exactly 2,520 years, or seven multiplied by 360 years – a remarkable long-term prophecy which came to pass precisely as prophesied by Israel’s prophets under inspiration of the Spirit of God. Please see succeeding discussions for further proof as to the precision of this time period, as 1917 was the termination point of several other prophetic revelations in God’s word. <HEL>

Shooting Forth of Fig Tree: 1947-48

Shooting Forth of All the Trees: 1947-48

Precis:

Shooting Forth of Fig Tree, and All the Trees: these were events which actually began prior to 1917 and continued for several years, beginning with the First Aliyah which occurred in the late nineteenth century. The ending dates shown above refer to the general era of the reestablishment of the Jewish Commonwealth in 1947 (UNO Partition Plan) and 1948 (Israeli Independence). The period of thirty years would include intense additional travail of the Jews as terminal punishment for their disobedience to God resulting in their second overthrow in 70 AD, leading to their REGATHERING from that dispersal of His people into all the earth, termed by us The Diaspora (The Scattering – as of seed sown). It is a time of perplexity indeed.

In the previous section, we were discussing Jesus' words in Luke 21 ending at verse 24. These, we believe, address the time leading up to the 1917 date of the termination of the Times of the Gentiles. The next verses speak of inextricable confusion in the heavens and in the high places of the earth (the ruling classes) as well as among all peoples (nations)– their bewilderment, or inability to solve their challenges or effectively to govern themselves as we move into the modern age of post-1917 and to the target date of 1947 – 1948.

He typifies this growing desperation as “perplexity … the sea and the waves (the people and the nations) roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear” at the certain prospect ahead for the earth and its people. He utilizes the figure of metaphor to compare the heavenly bodies to those occupying heavenly places (ruler-ship) in the earth, saying these shall be “shaken,” and by implication that they shall FALL. Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Then Behold! – The resolution of all these dire circumstances by Divine means and by Heavenly intervention: Luke 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

The Master then begins His recapitulation of these events, giving hope and encouragement to His called, faithful and chosen – reassuring them of His benevolent, merciful, overarching control of all these affairs and of His satisfactory, salvational (redemptive) outworking of the incredibly complex events of the Endtime – all far beyond human solution or control.

His advice to us is: PAY CLOSE ATTENTION! Seek for their meaning fervently. Discuss them and try to unravel them scripturally. Believe that they are important … and place your life in line with them! Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Then He adds significant details as way-markers in the path to the kingdom – a progressive, intervemtional process (on His part) in the chaotic progression of the affairs of the Endtime world leading to a steady, sure convergence upon His final solution to the depravity of humankind and their immersion in sin and greed.

A nation would arise, an action described as the “shooting forth” of a fig tree. He thus indicates ISRAEL’S regathering and reconstitution as a national entity among the nations of that day (our day). Israel is often described as a fig tree in the Father’s lexicon. Joel 1:6, 7 is a direct reference to Israel symbolized by both the vine and the fig tree in poetic terms of both endearment and pathos: Joel 1:6 For a nation (Babylon, in this case) is come up upon my land (Judah), strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion. 7 He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.

But now He offers a sure and certain hope in the midst of desperation and ruin – in human terms an unlikely outcome of the people’s plight in the terrible times to which they have come; in other references He reveals that this period shall include a wrenchingly wicked episode termed “The Time of Jacob’s Trouble,” in Jeremiah 30: 7, reassuring them, but he shall be saved out of it, by which we believe He refers to The Shoah, or The Holocaust, and its resultant “remnant” of survivors in 1945.

His benevolent solution of the ages of their discomfiture is the vigorous regathering of His people to the place where He has chosen to place His name for all eternity (I Kings 9:3; 11: 36; II Kings 21: 4, 7; 23: 7; I Chronicles 22: 10; II Chronicles 6:6 and others) and to keep them safe there until He sends His Son, the Messiah of Israel, to redeem them.

Note the extremely reassuring words to His people of Amos 9:13 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. 14 And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. 15 And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.

The promise of Jesus is shrouded in the linguistic figure of the springtime budding of the fig tree, and all the trees, by the Master in Luke 21. It is a time of refreshing for many peoples, but shall result in the long-term success of only one of these: His covenanted Son, Israel restored.

This is the only reference to OTHER “trees” which should shoot forth at the same time as His renewed nation of Israel.

What does this mean?

We can be sure (because of clear historical events which followed) that its indication is the “shooting forth” of many other trees (nations) in the same designated territories and in the time frame as that in which Israel comes into being. It is a wonderful, gratuitous revelation of additional plans He has devised to promote and bring forward His Plan with Israel toward their testing and redemption … and further to our own enlightenment and steadfastness.

What nations (trees) could these be?

His certain indication is the creation of other nation-states similar to Israel which are clearly emergent in the same era and in proximate locations to His people and their State; these are the roughly twenty Islamic entities created by the colonial powers of Britain and France in the newly vacated territories of the defeated Ottoman Empire (a victory spoken of in Revelation 16: 12 as “the drying up” of the Euphrates – the symbolic domain of the Turk which was taken away), brought to heel and terminated by these powers in World War I. That reference mentions “the kings of the east,” as coming into existence in those territories as Euphrates (the Ottoman Empire) recedes and dries up.

The figures of speech are consistent and logical – and conform to the subsequent history of the area, viz., establishments of emirs, sheiks, kings, and monarchs of various stripe in those newly created Eastern States (all of whom are notably antagonistic to God’s People, the Jews and would test their mettle for what seems an extended period!).

His perfectly accurate foresight thus prophesied the highly unlikely establishment of many other entities alongside Israel and hostile to His people, reconstituted in its ancient and covenanted homeland – which also lay in the heart of that extensive arena which had lately been liberated from the Turkish oppressor, The Levant – or land of the sun’s rising.

Furthermore, this result would have far-reaching consequences resulting in the reformation of the entire earth and its entire population: the ultimate establishment of the kingdom of God! And even more remarkable: His words indicate a certain LIMIT to the time of this tribulation, naming “this generation” of Believers as the recipient of that concrete promise!

The text illustrates: Luke 21:29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; 30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer (a more pleasant, warmer, friendlier season) is now nigh at hand. 31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

It is a blessed gift of reassurance from Him, encouraging and admonishing the faithful patience of His people of the turbulent, dangerous Endtime. <HEL>

God Abandons His People Until a Certain Time: Micah 5

Precis:

The Prophet Micah reveals a most remarkable prophecy in his 5^th chapter. When examined and considered closely, it reveals an established sequence of events following a distinctly clear time-line when we view the (largely) now fulfilled prophecy; we can do that easily, because much of the prophecy has been fulfilled in our own day. It speaks of His abandonment of His people UNTIL a certain time when they shall be reborn and shall return to the children of Israel (to their land) for redemption.

The entirety of Micah 5 is extremely informative in light of events of the last few decades of this Endtime. I record the entire chapter below for verse by verse commentary.

The initial words of the section establish some specific details which at the time of revealing were well into the future. It speaks of “troops” or armies which lay siege against “us” (Israel of a certain day). The phrase about their smiting the Judge of Israel with a rod may refer to the Roman treatment of Jesus at Gabbatha – Pilate’s Judgment Pavement in the Fortress of Antonia (his military stronghold) just north of Temple Mount; it is specifically recorded that Jesus at that time was struck by whips and rods and assaulted by soldiers (slapped) and insulted by placement on his head of a crown of thorns as well as ridiculed, taunted, and spat upon. It may additionally refer to the stingingly clear rejection of Jesus by His people of the day – a veritable “slap in the face” to Jesus for His trouble!

In these acts, the Judge (Jesus) was smitten upon the cheek. Micah 5:1 Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.

The prophet then issues an highly unlikely prophecy as to the birthplace of the future Ruler of Israel (Jesus) who is to be born in Bethlehem Ephratah – a small town just to the south of Jerusalem where He would “happen” to be when His mother delivered Him in a sheep-fold. His pathway to greatness had been laid out “from of old, from everlasting (time).” Mic 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

However, He would not be Ruler at this time due to the refusal of His people to accept His teachings and His salvation. From many other references we may infer the logical and scriptural fact that the Father would turn aside from His people for their rejection of His Son. He would “give them up,” which means to abandon them, the phraseology used in several other versions of this record, until a certain TIME. That time should be that in which she which travaileth (is laboring to deliver His people) hath brought forth (to birth); THEN the remnant of His brethren shall return to the (land of the) children of Israel.

In the A.V. the passage reads: Micah 5:3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.

Those underlined time markers (UNTIL and THEN) are extremely revelatory and supremely important to consider. They demarcate three stages in the development of the modern State of Israel, as follows:

At that time in future when Messiah first came and was rejected by the Jews, God in turn rejected them, and abandoned them to their enemies. Without His protection, within 40 years the Judean Commonwealth had been overthrown and its surviving people sold as slaves to masters all over the world. Their Father had ABANDONED them – a pathetic and needless fate for their race lasting thousands of years (nearly 2,000 years), UNTIL something or someone (“she”) who labored to bring them forth (from captivity) HATH BROUGHT FORTH (given birth to Zion): THEN the remnant (a small fraction of a formerly larger group) should return unto (the land of) the children of Israel.

A snapshot in 1860 reveals the Jews scattered to the winds and abandoned in the late eighteenth century. Then a movement for Israel’s reconstitution began in earnest – first by fits and starts, completely financed by donations, peopled by brave pioneers challenging death by starvation and disease in their ancient homeland which had been so neglected that it was a desert wasteland, devoid of flowing streams or verdant forests, sadly neglected and itself almost completely depopulated.

Jewish zealots – movers and shakers for a national homeland – came forward with determination to develop the Land and with the tenacity to remain in it no matter what. Some brought funds for land purchases; some had courage to migrate to the land and the skills to overcome its special challenges of aridity, sterility, infestation with malaria, and sparse vegetation to try to cultivate it. Its terminal birth pains really began as the World Zionist Organization (WZO) came into being at the First World Zionist Convention in Basle, Switzerland, in 1897, an occasion on which Theodor Herzl, its leader, afterward wrote in his diary that “this day I have created an homeland for my people” and that it would bear fruit within 50 years.

It did so!

Zionism (the WZO) was “bringing forth” its man-child, Israel, to re-birth upon the mountains of Israel in the Endtime. Its banner of State displayed boldly a Star of David, a time-honored, universally recognized symbol of the Root of Jesse, Offspring of David, the Lord Jesus Christ. The WZO was the human foundation which the Almighty utilized to devise, finance and supervise the unlikely and unique campaign to reinstate His people in their Land.

But until the baby Jewish State was birthed, Israel and her people remained abandoned. Their persecution intensified until just before its delivery. That period of time was the thirty years between the liberation of the Land by the British army (God’s army, just as was Babylon’s army earlier) culminating in the UNO Partition of Palestine in 1947 and actual proclamation of Israel as a State on May 14, 1948 – exactly 30 years – a factor which will be shown as extremely relevant further down in this article.

The succeeding text prophesies: Micah 5:4 And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.

The metaphors may seem mixed; “he shall stand” refers to the re-born People without doubt: and (he, Israel) shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide …(the promise of that last phrase being that they should NEVER AGAIN be uprooted or scattered).

We should be extremely foolish to deny that Israel was founded and stands “in the strength of the Lord,” for it is without doubt His strength and favor which sustains His people. Their sparse number compared to the innumerability of their enemies attests to His firm sustenance of them; their survival continues to depend entirely upon Him (although at this time they certainly regard their strength as their own); after all, Israel is not yet enlightened as to the Father’s sure presence among them as they certainly shall be in the near future.

The phrase “… for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth” may refer first to the nation, then to its coming Redeemer. It is well attested that tiny Israel has the third most capable military force in the world after the United States and Russia – so Israel is indisputably “great” in all the earth in that sense. Its military-industrial complex within Israel has developed some of the most sophisticated weapons ever devised by man, and continues to do so rapidly. It has defeated its populous enemies time after time in miraculous fashion; it has increased its territories and influence each time (and its respect among its enemies), then been duped into relinquishing control of some of them in later negotiations.

The time is not yet come for it to become Greater Israel, expanding its borders from the Nile to the Euphrates, fulfilling the land covenant anciently made to Abraham (Genesis 12, et seq.).

Now the narrative moves to a point after He has appeared to Israel and is ready to enter upon the work of subjugation of the peoples to His authority and to His renewed People, Israel.

Micah 5:5 And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men. 6 And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders.

The scene is the physical invasion of His newly regathered People by “Assyria,” an entity further identified as “the land of Nimrod” so we can make no mistake (thinking it might be Russia or somebody else irrelevant!). Syria and Iraq of today are intended in this label. Exactly how their coalition shall come about we cannot be sure; today their ideologies are greatly at odds. Other translations of this verse in my library indicate that the Man of Bethlehem (Jesus Christ) shall bring peace (victory) over Assyria SHOULD it enter My Land – a possibility that we do not fully understand as yet. In other words, is Assyria’s invasion something that may happen OR MAY NOT HAPPEN depending on some circumstance? That is not yet clear to our minds. But its political and military defeat is a certainty.

The immediate upshot of this conflict, which may simultaneously include hot warfare with still other nearby enemies, shall extend the reputation and stature of Israel’s divinely directed and led defense. Its Leader’s pacification of their enemies (total victory over them) shall result in a great blessing of the remaining peoples of their neighborhood, to which the next verse attests: Micah 5:7 - And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.

In other words, its military action is initiated by and guided by that Man of Bethlehem! He has personally and physically returned to them and in His benevolence is actively and vigorously delivering them from their enemies, which without His assistance might possibly overrun and destroy His people. That is not His intent for them. This mien is indicated in the next verse: Micah 5:8 - And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. 9 Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.

Those fierce enemies haven’t even a slim chance of success in their aggression against the Christ of the Second Advent and His Saints, now present among and representing His people as The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, and not as the former Passover Lamb destined for sacrifice and death. It is the day of His power and strength, not of humble, sacrificial submission.

And now the narrative of the prophecy advances to the next stages – the Lion’s adjustment of His mortal people’s basic polity – His immediate reduction (erasure, really!) of Israel’s physical means of warfare. Note his enumeration of the weapons that He shall now destroy – and the corrupt institutions among them that He shall utterly abolish – in cleansing the land of the remaining influences of the world around them, and the establishment of their complete dependence upon His Protection. Micah 5:10 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots: 11 And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds: 12 And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers: 13 Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands. 14 And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I destroy thy cities.

The items in those last five verses are intriguing – ancient expressions indicating modern equipment and corrupting influences. How do they translate?

Horses were the prime power sources of warfare; today, aircraft and ground vehicles are.

Chariots were the prime battle vehicle; in Israel the armored tanks have been. Israel’s primary battle tank is named Merkava, which means “chariot.”

The Cities of the Land must surely represent ideological centers of rebellion, discontent, and blatant disobedience; we might think of the significant lesbian/gay community in Israel, which is extensive and influential. Such filth and abomination shall quickly be abolished as Messiah prepares to govern His people in righteousness.

Strong holds are military encampments; today there are hundreds of these scattered about the face of the Land. They shall be abolished, deconstructed, obliterated. There shall be no need for these in their future.

Witchcrafts are vain philosophies and wrong-headed intentions of the society. We think of the prevalent atheism among the Jews of today – which He shall obliterate by the abundant proofs of His Kingship that He shall display to them. The tendency of many to rely on science rather than on Yahweh also comes to mind.

Soothsayers indicate those who rely on Humanistic solutions to all problems; He shall demonstrate comprehensively to them that all solutions to their challenges are Divine, and based solidly on His word and will.

Graven Images are surely literally that, at the least; a visitor to Israel today is astounded at the prevalence of graven images of Mary and of Jesus in the society’s Catholic and protestant institutions in the form of sculpture as well as paintings and engravings. These are not Israeli in origin, but are prevalent among His people due to Israel’s “democratic” ideals of its modern state. Such mythology shall be removed from the Land, cleansing it of all false concepts about Jesus and His Father, abolishing the ungodly doctrine of The Trinity, for example, and establishing the sovereignty of One God and the separateness of His Son and of His Spirit.

Standing Images are of the same ilk; there are literally thousands of engraved crosses, statues of the baby Jesus in His mother’s arms, of Mary “the mother of God!” as well as fanciful depictions of people ascending to heaven and burning in the fires of a supposed hell.

Works of Thy Hands may refer to human institutions which do not integrate well with the glory that is due to the Father and His Son. Any such works shall be taken away, for it is a principle of the Father that He will not give His glory to another.

Thy Groves are surely any institution of false worship. These may not necessarily be “groves” established by or even belonging to the Jews – indeed may refer to such heathen institutions as the Mosque al-Aqsa, the Dome of the Rock, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Church of All Nations, Dominus Flevit, and numerous other pagan establishments such as The Church of Pater Noster, The Church of the Beatitudes, The Church of the Assumption (of Mary!), The Church of the Annunciation and others.

The monetary worth of only these named institutions is surely in the billions of dollars in mere human art and history, in gold and precious stones. Their loss will be the beginning of the erasure of all pagan religions from His holy patrimony and shall be the cause of immense consternation from the Vatican, the World Council of Churches, and most other liberal religious foundations of men.

Our suspicion is that the monetary worth of all these establishments, such as the golden roof of the Dome of the Rock, shall be appropriated by the Christ and utilized in the treasury of His new domain. The “wealth of all the heathen” shall thus be turned unto the Lord, for Zechariah 14: 14 was not recorded idly by the Almighty: Zechariah 14:14 And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.

It is obvious that this reference names specifically the wealth of imposters gathered as a result of His victories in Jerusalem. The 14^th verse of Micah 5 could also possibly include Israeli institutions which are not compatible with His righteous administration, of which there are several as well.

The prophet’s summary statement in verse 15 brings the ultimate sentence upon the nations and peoples that oppose Christ; His punishment upon them is the result of their fierce aggression and intransigent resistance to His will and to the presence of His people in their land, and to their incessant usurpation of their heritage and land. Micah 5:15 And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard. It is a dreadful but final judgment upon those who know not God. <HEL>

Series to be continued January, 2012, God willing.

November, 2011

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus’ First Coming

H E Lafferty

Some of the most strengthening aspects of God’s word relate to fulfilled prophecies – the words of the Almighty which predicted that certain specific events would come to pass many hundreds or thousands of years before they happened – the fulfillment of which may be examined in such tremendous detail.

The prophecies relating to the appearance, the career and the sacrifice of Jesus of Nazareth attest to the amazing accuracy of God’s word! This month we intend to examine several of these and discuss them in detail.

In this article we will review some 17 texts which were written as predictions about Jesus of Nazareth, Who would become Jesus the Christ by His perfect life and His sacrificial death and resurrection. [I credit the work of Grant Jeffrey in his book The Signature of God, for the statistical probabilities which I will assign to each case.]

The first prediction: His birth in Bethlehem of Judea …

Probability: 1 chance in 2,400.

Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to the Ruler of Israel, Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Also, Genesis 49:10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.

There were twelve tribes in ancient Israel in which Messiah could have been brought forth, but only two were still in existence when He was sent. But a more significant factor is that there were over 2,000 towns and villages in the densely populated area allotted to these tribes of Judah and Benjamin – in Judea. Being conservative, let’s say there were only 200 villages, so that 12 possible tribes x 200 villages = 2,400 chances to one that He would be born specifically in Bethlehem and in Judah.

Fulfillment: Matthew 2: 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem.

Prediction number two: He would be preceded by a particular kind of messenger.

Probability: one chance in 20

Isaiah 40: 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord: make straight in the desert an highway for our God.’

The probability of 20 is purely arbitrary. No other king in history is known to have had such an introducer/messenger as John Baptizer. Calculating this probability into the first one, we multiply 2,400 times 20 to arrive at one chance in 48,000 of His being born in Bethlehem of Judah and being preceded by a prominent messenger!

Fulfillment: Matthew 3: 1, 2 In those days John Baptizer came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Subsequent the Spirit of God visibly showed Jesus to be the Agent of that kingdom.

Prediction number three: He would ride into Jerusalem on a colt, foal of an ass.

Probability: one chance in 50

Zechariah 9: 9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, you King is coming to you: He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.

The mule was the designated royal riding animal of the kings of Israel and Judah. Jesus rode into His future capitol on a day the church has designated “Palm Sunday,” fulfilling this prophecy. The odds against this occurrence were set at one chance in 50.

50 x 48,000 yields once chance in 2.4 million against a purely chance fulfillment of the three prophecies considered so far!

Fulfillment: Luke 19: 35-37 – And they threw their own garments on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. And as He went, they spread their clothes on the road. Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen.

Prediction number four: He would be betrayed by a friend.

Probability: one chance in 10

Psalm 41: 9 Even My own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate My bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

Many secular kings have been betrayed by friends. But in the realm of great religious leaders, this is a rare circumstance. The probability has been set at 1 in 10.

Fulfillment: Matthew 26: 47, 48 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.’

Prediction number five: His hands and his feet would be pierced.

Probability: one chance in 100

Psalm 22: 16 For dogs have surrounded Me; the assembly of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet.

The combined probability of these five predictions (100 x 24 million) has now reached one chance in 2.4 billion!

Fulfillment: Luke 23: 23 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and one on the left.

Prediction number six: He would be wounded by His enemies.

Probability: one chance in 10

Zechariah 13: 6 And one shall say unto Him, ‘What are these wounds in Thine hands?’ Then He shall answer, ‘Those with which I was wounded in the house of My friends.’

In all history, most kings who were killed were assassinated by various means while they were kings. Jesus was a future king, which lessens His chances of being so treated. The arbitrary odds against this are 10. Ten x 2.4 billion equals one chance in 24 billion!

Fulfillment: Matthew 27: 26 … and when he has scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified. This procedure involved piercing His hands as well as His feet.

Prediction number seven: His betrayal price would be 30 pieces of silver.

Probability: One chance in 50

Zechariah 11: 12 Then I said to them, ‘If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain. So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver.’

How humanly impossible is it to predict the exact price of the betrayal of a future king, five centuries in advance? Well … arbitrarily, one in 50.

So, the probability mounts of 50 x 24 billion – or one in 1.2 trillion!

Fulfillment: Matthew 26: 18 ‘What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?‘ And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver.

Prediction number eight: He will be spat upon and beaten.

Probability: 1 chance in 10

Isaiah 50:6 I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard: I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.

Few kings were tormented, beaten and ridiculed before being killed. Jesus Christ bore those insults and injuriesfor our healing and salvation, as well as for His own. At arbitrary odds of 1 in 10, 10 x 1.2 trillion is equal to one in 12 trillion.

Fulfillment: Matthew 26: 67 Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands.

Prediction number nine: His betrayal money would be cast down in the temple and then given to buy a potter’s field.

Probability: one chance in 200

Zechariah 11: 13 And the Lord said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter;’ that pricely price they set on me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord for the potter.

This prophecy is complex, and really may seem impossible of fulfillment. Yet, in spite of this, every detail of it was fulfilled with precision! Judas threw the 30 pieces of silver down in the Temple. The priests retrieved it, and immediately used the money to purchase a potter’s field in which to bury strangers or indigent citizens. Judas himself was perhaps its first occupant, for he immediately hanged himself!

The conservative odds of 1 in 200 gives us 200 x 12 trillion, which is one chance in 2,400 trillion!

Fulfillment: Matthew 27: 5-7 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, ‘It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.’ And they took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.

Prediction number ten: He would be silent before His accusers

Probability: one chance in 100

Isaiah 53: 7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.

How likely is it that a totally innocent man would stand before his accusers and answer not a word in his own defense, even though invited by them to defend himself? Yet that is precisely what Jesus of Nazareth did! The arbitrary odd s of one chance of 100 is extremely low, but now 100 x 2.4 trillion is equivalent to a combined one chance in 24,000 trillion!

Fulfillment: Matthew 27: 12-14 And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. Then Pilate said to Him,’Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?’ and He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.

Prediction number eleven: He would be crucified with thieves … transgressors.

Probability: one chance in 100

Isaiah 53: 12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, the He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

It is considered very unlikely that an innocent man would be crucified with a criminal, or especially two criminals; but in Jesus’ case, that is what happened. The continuing multiplication of these odds reaches another staggering, new high; that progression will continue throughout the entire 17 prophecies we are considering. Our calculations are being suspended at this fulfillment but an accounting will be made of the final probability of all these facts about Jesus being guessed correctly by sheer chance when we finish our considerations.

Fulfillment: Matthew 27: 38 Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left.

Prediction number twelve: People would gamble for His garments.

Probability: one chance in 100

Psalm 22: 18 They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.

Just think of how unlikely it would be that Roman soldiers would cast lots in order to claim the rather ordinary garment of a crucified prisoner. Yet the prophecy was fulfilled precisely!

Fulfillment: John 19: 23, 24 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now, the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. They said among themselves, ‘Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,’ that the scripture might be fulfilled which says, ‘They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.’

Prediction number thirteen: His side would be pierced.

Probability: one chance in 100

Zechariah 12: 10 And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me Whom they have pierced; they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.

The express cruelty of the Romans was promoted even in the terrible, slow death of crucifixion, as prisoner hung for lengthy periods on the stakes of death. Despite his orders to allow the prisoners to linger for a long time between life and death, the Roman centurion was moved by God to pierce the side of Christ, thrusting his spear up through His diaphragm into His heart, draining probably the left ventricle of its now separated plasma and formed elements. The effluent would appear as blood and water.

The chances of a soldier piercing the side of a crucified man is low, but was set at 1 in 100.

Fulfillment: John 19: 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.

Prediction number fourteen: None of His bones would be broken.

Probability: one chance in 20

Psalm 34: 20 He guards all His bones; not one of them is broken.

When a Roman prisoner was crucified, his feet were nailed together to the pole with one nail, his hands with another. The prisoner was able to alleviate some pain from his pierced hands, and to promote deeper breathing if he pushed upwards with his legs, supporting his body above his pelvis. Breaking the prisoners’ legs prevented even this small amount of pain alleviation, making his death even more painful.

Fulfillment: John 19: 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was dead already, they did not break His legs.

Prediction number fifteen: His body would not decay.

Probability: one chance in 10,000

Psalm 16: 10 For You will not leave my soul (i.e., himself) in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

There are absolutely NO odds against a dead corpse not decaying; it is inevitable under normal circumstances. It always occurs! But in this special case, the body of the deceased was resurrected, resulting in NO decay! The odds here were set at one in 10,000 because there were a few others in the OT who were resurrected, such as the Shunnamite widow’s son who was raised from the dead by Elijah. In the NT there was the case of Lazarus, as well as some others. All these, without exception, died again later – and decayed.

Fulfillment: Acts 2: 31 He foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.

Prediction number sixteen: He would be buried in a rich man’s tomb.

Probability; one chance in 100

Isaiah 53: 9 And they made His grave with the wicked; but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.

One of the possible sites of the tomb of Christ is located in a beautiful garden just north of the Damascus Gate of Jerusalem. The tomb, located a hundred yards from a cliff face known as Golgotha, was discovered in the 19^th century by a British army officer. Only one body depression was ever used as the owner did not complete the stone-carving work in order to bury other bodies. The site features a huge cistern which could hold 200,000 gallons of water, and the remains of a wine press; both are indicative that the place was a garden of a rich man which contained a vineyard. It is by no means certain that this is Jesus’ burial tomb.

Fulfillment: Matthew 27: 57 Now when evening had come, there came a reich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man wentd to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb, which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.

Prediction number seventeen: That darkness would cover the earth at His death.

Probability: one chance in 1,000.

Amos 8:9 ‘And it shall come to pass in that day,’ says the Lord god, ‘That I will make the sun go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in broad daylight.

As Jesus was killed at Passover, which is ALWAYS at a time of full moon, a natural eclipse of the sun would have been impossible, as the moon at that time in its cycle is located on the opposite side of the earth from the sun and would be unable to block the sun! So this prediction is perhaps the most unlikely of the seventeen cited – at least equivalent to that of a corpse not decaying.

Yet, a pagan historian of the third century, in The Third History of Thallus, has attested to the fact that there was an unusual darkness which blotted out the sun for a number of hours at the time of Passover in this year of Christ’s crucifixion! The supernatural darkening of the sun at that particular time signals the divine nature of the operation. It expressed the inhuman nature of the deed and perhaps the gloom that would overcome the nation of the Jews both in their own land and in the future lands of their dispersion.

Fulfillment: Matthew 27: 45 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour, there was darkness over all the land.

Conclusions

These detailed prophecies, all made at least five centuries before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, were fulfilled with absolute precision in the birth, life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus!

And now we come to the numerically impossible improbability that these seventeen events could have occurred to one man – the SAME man – by sheer chance, rather than by the divine plan of God! Either they came about by chance, OR the evidence provided here shows without dispute that God our Father has inspired the Bible and is in total control of history, as prophecy lapses into fact (into history) by fulfillment!

You will not be able to comprehend the overwhelming weight of improbability that comes with just these seventeen texts and their fulfillment, let alone at least 31 other, equally prominent predictions that we could add, given more space and energy.

The chances AGAINST these events happening exactly as prophesied are one chance in 480 billion x 1 billion x I trillion! In other terms, 480 followed by THIRTY zeroes!

There is hardly such a huge number in the universe – even in the usually impossible measurements seen in astronomy, where star distances are measure in light years rather than miles!

Not only are the odds this great against those 17 events happening to one man by sheer chance, there is the equally slim possibility that any man could himself even have fulfilled these detailed prophecies by any means alone, even if he had tried to do so.

How could any man control, in the first place, his Tribal descent and his town of birth?

How could he arrange a non-eclipse darkness of the sun from noon until 3 pm to shroud his death?

How could he arrange his own death by some kind of betrayal, and then arrange that the price of his own betrayal be precisely 30 pieces of silver?

How could he arrange to be crucified with thieves, and then be buried in a rich man’s grave?

How could he arrange in his crucifixion not to have his legs broken, but to have his side pierced ONCE, and ONLY once?

How could he have arranged for none of his bones to be broken during crucifixion?

And how could he be sure that his body would never decay? For what man can bring about his own resurrection, thus preventing the inevitable decay?

When we consider such remarkable facts from our Bibles, and realize the strength and encouragement that we surely receive from them – and the re-legitimization of our faith – our hearts leap up to realize yet again that innumerable weighty events in history have not only been known in advance but also foretold with incredible accuracy by our Father through His prophets!

Jesus told His disciples that He had revealed to them many things that would happen to Him in the SHORT TERM, so that when these came to pass, they might believe His long term plan! That’s in John 14: 29.

The Service of Memory of which we partake every seventh day is actually one of those prophecies! It foretold his death for sin.

Within 24 hours it was fulfilled!

Later, the apostles understood – and their faith was sealed unto death! All except Judas, the betrayer, whose blood money purchased his own graveyard!

Many longer term prophecies have also been written about His Second Coming and His Kingdom … their mode of appearance is well outlined for us. Their long-term implications are relatively clear to our perceptive minds.

These strengthen us. The make our faith unshakable.

They glorify Christ and His Father as they occur.

We are commanded to Watch, and Pray, for the hour of His coming could fall upon us as a thief coming in the night.

That means that we must watch for the signs we have been given of His coming, praying for them to come.

That means we must daily (even hourly!) prepare ourselves for that inevitability – that destiny – that lot.

As the hour draws near, we are reminded of the beautiful words of this hymn –

Thy People, Lord, who trust Thy word,

And wait the smiling of Thy face,

Assemble round Thy mercy-seat,

And plead the promise of Thy grace.

Hast Thou not sworn to give thy Son

To be a light to Gentile lands;

To open the benighted eye,

And loose the wretched prisoners’ bands?

Hast Thou not said, from sea to sea,

His vast dominion shall extend,

That every tongue shall call Him Lord,

And every knee before Him bend?

Now let the happy time appear,

The time to favor Zion come;

Send forth Thy heralds far and near,

To call Thy banish’d people home.

<HEL MD/USA>

The eProphecy Letter

October, 2011

The Appearance of “The Anti-Christ”

Review of Section 39 of Twilight of the Prophets

The first two Phases of Israel’s and Messiah’s conflicts with the hostile forces of the world, resulting in the singular, spectacular, and severe defeat of the aggressors against Israel, shall greatly reinforce the opinion of the “church” world – including the Roman-led nations of Europe – that this “new man” in Israel is actually “the Anti-Christ” of their eschatology.

At this point, they shall not have recognized this great event to have been the return of the real Christ. As far as they are concerned, He is YET to appear on the earth, even if they believe in that concept in the first place.

Why is this so? Well, not ONE of the people of Christendom shall have been “raptured” out of this world to heaven, as they are certain the true Christ shall accomplish for them – so this leader, on that basis alone, MUST be “the Anti-Christ.”

He shall have made a covenant with Israel, which he says is everlasting and redemptive – also one of their hallmarks of “the Anti-Christ.”

He shall have brought peace and true security (or safety; betach in the Hebrew) to Israel, who no longer fears any enemies, which the “church” expects of this powerful leader, “the Anti-Christ.”

He shall have made remarkable progress building a great Temple in Jerusalem, which is precisely what the Church forecasts “the Anti-Christ” as planning. They teach without second thoughts, that after 3 1/2 years, “the Anti-Christ” will set up an image of himself in it and demand that Israel worship the image!

He shall have disarmed the nation of Israel. They will be absolutely certain that this is a preamble to his “betrayal” of Israel, which, they forecast, shall occur after 3 ½ years.

He shall have shown supernatural power in their classic prescription for “the Anti-Christ” which they fervently expect.

It seems quite clear to me that the “church’s” expectation of the appearance of Anti-Christ is a clear expression of Dominion Theology, or Replacement Theology, as it is also known. That is, that God has abandoned Israel to their own fate, because of their not having received Jesus as they should have, and that “the Church” is now “the favored Son,” and is the true kingdom of God on the earth.

What gross deception! What enormous conceit! Without any doubt whatsoever, this is the concrete view of the Roman Catholic system. Why do you think their cardinals and popes and other “higher” officials (not a scriptural position, is it?) DRESS like kings and emperors, and ACT like kings and emperors (having the unwashed masses kiss their feet and their rings, always bowing in their presence, kowtowing to them as to royalty!?

It’s because “the Church” thinks of itself as having replaced Israel in God’s favor, and is now the kingdom of God on the earth!!

Yes, it’s certainly true! They actually have created - and do desire - the appearance of this so-called “Anti-Christ,” because they want Israel to get its “comeuppance.” That will happen, they teach (quite gleefully?) in the greatest magnitude, when the “Anti-Christ” finally “turns on Israel,” because the Jews won’t worship the image of the “Anti-Christ” that they have deduced that he will place in that magnificent temple that he is supposed by them to build at Jerusalem.

So, at this point we must come to the serious Biblical conclusion of the true identity of “Anti-Christ.”

You are not likely to learn very much accurate information about the true, Biblical Anti-Christ from the TV “ministers,” or any of the clergy of Christendom. They have grossly misinterpreted this Bible principle for centuries, mainly because they are too deeply immersed in it themselves! And because they have listened intently to the original corrupters of this doctrine, the Roman Catholic clergy, the pope, and especially The Society of Jesus (the Jesuits)!

Most of Christendom teaches that “the Anti-Christ” will appear at some time in the near future. One author of these theories says he believes that “the Anti-Christ” is alive somewhere in the world today, even now developing toward his destiny as the great deceiver of the End-time. He expects this Anti-Christ to appear “when the time is right.”

It is amazing in one sense that the leaders and expositors - the movers and shakers of the world’s churches, many of them with doctoral degrees in “Divinity” - cannot recognize the true anti-Christ, who Paul, writing to believers at Thessalonica,[i] told us was IN HIS OWN TIME already working. Yet, in another sense, it is entirely logical that they don’t recognize themselves in these prophecies, for it is they and their mother “church” which personify that devilish creature, which Paul terms “the son of perdition,” or son of apostasy - for apostasy is the meaning of perdition here.

So, to determine the identity of this chief player of the Apocalypse, look carefully at II Thessalonians 2:7-12, where much of the warning takes shape: I will insert appropriate commentary as needed … 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

There is that word “mystery” for which Romanism is so noted. The Latin word Mystery formerly actually adorned the papal miter by being emblazoned on its frontal surface until a critic pointed out the scriptural connection (see also Revelation 17:5). It was promptly removed!

Given its character, the apostle here links Mystery with “iniquity” or evil.

Now, what does this peculiar word letteth mean? It is Strong G2722, katecho = “to hold down fast, in various applications (literally or figuratively) – have, hold, keep, retain, take, withhold, etc.” Paul is saying that the mystery of iniquity is already beginning to manifest itself, and to work itself into the Ecclesia of Christ, but something is holding it back, or restraining it, and shall continue to hold it back until he (it) be taken out of the way – or removed.

At this point, I have decided to quote the Moffatt version here instead of the Authorized Version, for it is so much clearer. I’ll begin again, and quote all of it, as it will require much less ancillary explanation. Indeed, allow me to begin with II Thessalonians 2:1, for greater clarity: and please bear in mind that Paul is here explaining a principle which, from HIS perspective, will take many decades (centuries) to develop and which will exist until the Day of the Lord.

1 With regard to the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ and our muster before Him, I beg you, brothers, not to let your minds get quickly unsettled or excited by any spirit of prophecy or any declaration or any letter purporting to come from me, to the effect that the Day of the Lord is already here. Let nobody delude you into this belief, whatever he may say. It will not come till the Rebellion takes place first of all, with the revealing of the Lawless One, the doomed One, the adversary who vaunts himself above and against every so-called god or object of worship, actually seating himself in the temple of God with the proclamation that he himself is God. DO you not remember how I used to tell you this when I was with you? Well, you can recall now what it is that restrains him from being revealed before his appointed time. For the secret force of lawlessness is at work already; only, it cannot be revealed till he who at present restrains it is removed. Then shall the Lawless One be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of His lips, and quell by His appearing and arrival – that One whose arrival is due to Satan’s activity, with the full power, the miracles and portents, of falsehood, and with the full deceitfulness of evil for those who are doomed to perish, since they refuse to love the Truth that would save them. Therefore God visits them with an active delusion, till they put faith in falsehood, so that all may be doomed who refuse faith in the Truth but delight in evil.

Moffatt’s verse-breaks are not completely in line with the A.V., so verse-numbers are hard to add to his text, but you get the entire drift of the message of Paul here. I shall comment below, briefly, on the underlined phrases above:

The lawless one = the one who does everything his own way, regardless of the law of Christ. He is self-centered, makes his own laws, and considers himself “God on earth!”

Seating himself in the temple of God = occupying the “chair of St. Peter” in the papal palace in Vatican City/Rome, in the midst of “St. Peter’s Basilica.” If the Catholic Church is the Kingdom of God on earth, then in this sense, the pope occupies the “temple of God” (which is literally “St. Peter’s” basilica) from HIS own viewpoint.

He himself is God = the claim of the pope is that he is the “Vicar of Christ,” which means that he believes he is Christ (and God!) on earth. In their theology, Christ IS God. So the pope claims to be “God on earth,” which actually was claimed in so many words by at least one pope in the past!!

Secret force of lawlessness is at work already = Paul’s warning that adversaries were already working to lead some away from the Truth as it is in Christ Jesus. I like the A.V.’s phrase, “mystery of iniquity” here, as it says SO MUCH that is readily recognizable.

He at present restrains it is removed = a reference to the pagan phase of the Roman Empire, which treated “Christians” as lawbreakers. As Caesar was considered to be a god, it was unlawful for men to worship the God of heaven in pagan Rome. That restraining power was “removed” when Constantine, the first “Christian” emperor, made “Christianity” the state religion, and removed that restriction from adherents to that religion. By that time, many of the original truths had become corrupted by the “mystery of iniquity,” but corruption continued down through the ages until modern time.

The lawless one be revealed = a reference to the office of the pope, which was later elevated to leader of both state and church in the West by a decree of Phocas, the Eastern Roman Emperor. This brought the unmistakable revelation of “the lawless one,” or the pope, to our attention; one who always did everything his way rather than God’s way, setting up his own laws, changing the calendar, etc.

Whose arrival is due to Satan’s = due to the unrestrained application of sin in the flesh – the agency which is responsible for ALL sin within us: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, as outlined in I John 2:16.

Visits them with an active delusion means that God allows men to follow their own lusts if they don’t have the faithfulness to follow Him. They are actively deluded to believe a lie.

These refuse faith in the truth of God, but delight in evil.

As I have possibly stated before (!) Apostasy carries the meaning primarily of one who “falls away” from something that has validity. Here, that “something” is obviously God’s pure plan of salvation as delivered to the prophets and the saints of old. Someone (the Church) has here “fallen away” from her formerly-held, correct understanding of God’s plan and purpose – and has corrupted it – just as surely as had Judas, when he betrayed the Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is notable that Judas’ betrayal was motivated by his love for the wages of 30 pieces of silver – for money! Bear that in mind when we consider the details of the identity of the REAL anti-Christ, of whom Paul spoke.

If you formerly have had no idea who this entity is, or don’t yet believe that it is precisely the pope of Rome and his crowd, please read on! You will see incontrovertible evidence of the most blatant sins that you could imagine as we review some contemporary references to one of the world’s best-known institutions – one most venerated by the world – the Roman Church!

Now, according to the “church” doctrines of the “patrimony of St. Peter,” the apostle Peter was the first pope! We know full well that Peter was a holder of divine truth if anyone ever has been. He learned it at the feet of the Master. He taught it faithfully throughout his entire life. According to Catholic traditions, he was actually crucified upside down for holding fast to the faith. He did not apostatize, or betray, or “fall through” the solid foundation upon which his faith was based.

Yet virtually ALL the present Catholic traditions are in direct opposition to the faithful teachings of Peter the Apostle! Which means that they are also in direct opposition to the teachings of Christ.

Sad, but entirely true. And true for all her harlot daughters who hew to the same superstitions as she. You see, the Protestants didn’t effectively “protest” against her most important, her most deeply held, her most blatantly unscriptural doctrines. They protested against the more “minor” ones (but they aren’t REALLY minor!) such as the supremacy of the pope, the ability of the priesthood to forgive sins, the selling of indulgences, the inquisition, etc. But they did not repudiate the major doctrines, which she first betrayed in her history, which led to these transgressions of lesser magnitude (if we might call them that).

They did not protest against, or try to correct, her basic denial of the gospel of Christ, or her replacement of it with the fleshly gospels of greed, sloth, love of the world, lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. As a mainstream movement, she changed the truth of God into a lie as prophesied in Paul’s epistle to believers in Greece (II Thessalonians 2:11). She craftily deluded her followers, that they should BELIEVE a lie (i.e., ALL the lies which she has propounded!) - and many of the Protestants, when they came upon the scene, didn’t blink an eye!

How did she do this? WHY did she do it? In what ways did she transgress? How did the main leaders and preachers of Truth, some of the pure, virginal, white-clothed bride of Christ, who had been betrothed to Him by the true teachings of the Apostles, evolve rapidly and fully into the scarlet-clothed Whore of Revelation 17 and 18?

Please note: in saying all the above, I firmly state that I feel that a remnant of the original, pure, virginal, white-clothed bride of Christ remained in the original way, and continued to adhere to the truth “as it is in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 4:21). But their numbers and presence is so sparse as to have hardly been recorded by historians in many of the succeeding centuries. And their reappearance did not necessarily depend upon the Reformation or the Renaissance, but upon their finally emerging from the Dark Ages and learning to read for themselves the pure Truth of God from His word. Partially, this depended, in turn, not only upon the development of movable type by Johannes Gutenberg (1400? - 1468?) so that the Word could be printed and disseminated relatively inexpensively, but also upon the availability of schools where reading and other skills of comprehension could be learned.

Development of the Apostasy

But let us see precisely how that apostasy of the “church” came about, with numerous references from contemporary writers, beginning in the far distant past -- even from some of her own most learned scholars.

William Tyndale[ii] aptly sets the stage for our investigation, when he writes that “...they have set up that great idol, the Whore of Babylon, Antichrist of Rome, whom they call pope; and have conspired against all commonwealths, and have made them a several kingdom, wherein it is lawful, (and) unpunished, to work all abomination.”

Dr. Christopher Wordsworth commented, in 1848: “The Apocalypse reveals to us the future. It discloses to us the History of the Church, even to the Day of Doom ... the BABYLON of the APOCALYPSE[iii] is no other than the CHURCH OF ROME....in these Apocalyptic prophecies, the Woman, who is called Babylon, and is seated on the Beast with seven heads and ten horns, is no other than the CITY OF ROME....The cities of that age have now fallen into decay, and almost the only great City which then existed, and has ere since continued to exist, is ROME.”

“MYSTERY - This very word was inscribed on the front of the Pope’s miter, till some of the Reformers took public notice of it,” commented John Wesley, in 1786: “Babylon the great. Benedict XIII, in his proclamation of the jubilee, A. D. 1725, explains this sufficiently. His words are, ‘To this holy city (Rome), famous for the memory of so many holy martyrs, run with religious alacrity. Hasten to the place, which the Lord hath chose(n). Ascend to this New Jerusalem, whence the law of the Lord and the light of evangelical truth hath flowed forth into all nations, from the very first beginning of the church: the city most rightfully called “The Palace,” placed for the pride of all ages, the city of the Lord, the Sion (Zion) of the Holy One of Israel. This catholic and apostolical (sic) Roman Church is the head of the world, the mother of all believers, the faithful interpreter of God and mistress of all churches.” [iv]

We now examine how the church came to this state of being, by citing some writings of early commentators, historians, and church leaders.

Daniel was shown a vision in which he says, I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots; and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. (Daniel 7:8)

Paul, in his role of prophet, writing in II Thessalonians 2:1-12, quoted above, outlines the development of the “Son of Perdition,” which I capitalize, for it is the personal title of a man who went astray and led others astray. So it collectively represents a whole series of the same office of men, a whole category of men who departed from God’s way through many centuries of apostasy.

The rise of the little horn of Daniel seven not only can be readily detected, but also can be perceived to be developing in the following references:

“Since Celsus[v] rejects the statements concerning Antichrist, as it is termed, having neither read what is said of him in the book of Daniel nor in the writings of Paul, nor what the Saviour in the gospels has predicted about his coming, we must make a few remarks upon this subject. Paul, indeed, speaks of him who is called Antichrist, describing, though with a certain reserve, both the manner, and time, and cause of his coming .... The prophecy also regarding Antichrist is stated in the book of Daniel, and is fitted to make an intelligent and candid reader admire the words as truly divine and prophetic; for in them are mentioned the things relating to the coming kingdom, beginning with the times of Daniel, and continuing to the destruction of the world.”

“In A. D. 256, Firmilian, bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia wrote to Cyprian,[vi] bishop of Carthage, in a letter denouncing Stephen, the bishop of Rome (A. D. 254-257), charging that the church at Rome was observing Easter at a different time as well as ‘many other sacraments of divine matters’ causing him to write ‘They who are at Rome do not observe those things in all cases which are handed down from the beginning, and vainly pretend the authority of the apostles’ and that ‘all things are not observed among them alike, which are observed at Jerusalem, just as in very many other provinces also many things are varied because of the differences of the places and names.’ Firmilian goes on to lament that Stephen, the bishop of Rome, was guilty of defaming Peter and Paul, the blessed apostles, as if the very men delivered this who in their epistles execrated heretics.’”

Henry Hallam, writing about this disagreement, noted that “Here we have an allusion to what Tertullian had called horrenda vox, ‘episcopus episcoporum;’ manifestly intimating that the See of Rome had begun to assert a superiority and right of control, by the beginning of the third century, but at the same time that it was not generally endured. Probably the notion of their superior authority, as witness of the faith, grew up in the Church of Rome very early; and when Victor, toward the end of the second century, excommunicated the churches of Asia for a difference as to the time of keeping Easter, we see the germination of that usurpation, that tyranny, that uncharitableness, which reached its culminating point in the center of the mediaeval period.”[vii]

“In perhaps the most eloquent expression of church leadership in the first three centuries, Cyprian notes in his remarks of the Seventh Council of Carthage concerning the baptism of heretics, that the church did not have a universal bishop or pope; on the contrary...

“For neither does any of us set himself up as a bishop of bishops, nor by tyrannical terror does any compel his colleague to the necessity of obedience; since every bishop, according to the allowance of his liberty and power, has his own proper right of judgment, and can no more be judged by another than he himself can judge another. But let us all wait for the judgment of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only one that has the power both of preferring us in the government of His Church, and of judging us in our conduct there.”

In only a few years, the problem of the assertion of Rome of its own leadership of the errant “Church” seems to have reached much deeper. Lactantius (A. D. 260-330) wrote,[viii] “As many as believe him (the false prophet) and unite themselves to him, shall be marked by him as sheep; but they who shall refuse his mark (our emphasis) will either flee to the mountains, or, being seized, will be slain with studied tortures. He will also enwrap righteous men with the books of the prophets, and thus burn them; and power will be given him to desolate the whole earth for forty-two months ... he who is called Antichrist; but he shall falsely call himself Christ, and shall fight against the truth.”

Insight by diligent students into prophetic matters grew immensely as events transpired which quite obviously paralleled those foretold by Daniel and the Revelation. Cyril, who lived A. D. 315-386, noted these developments:[ix]

“But this aforesaid Antichrist is to come when the times of the [pagan] Roman empire shall have been fulfilled, and the end of the world is now drawing near. There shall rise up together ten kings of the Romans, reigning in different parts perhaps, but all about the same time, and after these, and eleventh, the Antichrist, who by his magical craft shall seize upon the Roman power, and of the kings who reigned before him, three he shall humble, and the remaining seven he shall keep in subjection to himself. At first indeed he will put on a show of mildness (as though he were a learned and discreet person), and of soberness and benevolence; and by the lying signs and wonders of his magical deceit having beguiled the Jews, as though he were the expected Christ, he shall afterwards be characterized by all kinds of crimes of inhumanity and lawlessness, so as to outdo all unrighteous and ungodly men who have gone before him; displaying against all men, but especially against us Christians, a spirit murderous and most cruel, merciless and crafty.”

You will note in this record that the church was becoming “crafty,” seeking to deny papal involvement in the Antichrist episode even at the early date of Cyril (died 386 A. D.). This was perhaps the very beginning of the “future Antichrist” theory, which by-passed the pope and averred that ‘Antichrist’ should arise among the Jews, deceive them, save them from their enemies for a time, then betray them and turn upon them with vengeance - which became the standard received theology among “Christians” about this entity to this day!!

This scenario would leave the pope out of the picture indefinitely and bring his followers and his critics alike to expect someone ELSE besides the pope to do this dirty work. Unfortunately, almost all the lay people and many leaders of the world swallowed that line of reasoning. But history would have to wait for the appearance of Ignatius Loyola and Francisco Ribera - and for their Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) - for a fully-fledged “explanation” of the Apocalypse in the context of the Futurist[x] interpretation.

And if anyone had any questions about this, all they were required to do was listen to the pope! The Italian Jesuit Cardinal Robert Bellarmine[xi] (A. D. 1542-1621) wrote “The fundamental article of the Christian religion is the supremacy of the Roman pontiff.”

That assertion is still true!

Yet, Samuel Green, in 1904, observed that “When Patriarch John IV of Constantinople claimed the title of ‘Universal Bishop,’ Gregory the Great, Bishop of Rome (A. D. 540-604), replied that for anyone to declare such a title was ‘blasphemous, anti-Christian, and diabolical, by whomsoever assumed.’”

But the then-current climate of disagreement within the Church on this very important dogma was evident in that one of the laws of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian (A. D. 483-565) stated: “Let us order, after the definition of the four Councils, that the holy pope of ancient Rome shall be the first of the bishops, and that the most high Archbishop of Constantinople, which is the new Rome, shall be the second” and “bow down to the supremacy of the pope (of Rome).”[xii]

Paul, in II Thessalonians 2:6, 7, had written: For the secret force of lawlessness is at work already; only, it cannot be revealed till he who at present restrains it is removed. THEN shall the Lawless One be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of His lips, and quell by His appearing and arrival.

Although the Catholic explanation of this verse would have you believe that “the Antichrist” would come in the distant future, the most astute contemporary writers and scholars through the centuries, who were constantly observing what the church and its pope was doing, were not fooled. Here are some of their thoughts...

Tertullian (A. D. 160-220) had a clear vision[xiii] of what was about to happen, when he wrote: “‘And now ye know what detaineth (him), that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work; only he who now hinders must hinder, until he be taken out of the way.’ What obstacle is there but the Roman state (pagan Rome), the falling away of which, by being scattered into ten kingdoms, shall introduce Antichrist ... that the beast Antichrist with his false prophet may wage war on the Church of God.” Those words inadvertently were extremely correct, except that Tertullian evidently expected someone other than a bishop of the church to adopt the conduct and identity of Antichrist from within the church, and thus bring extreme persecution upon any of the Church of Rome who were under its dominion!

However, during the early history of the church - while it was yet the Ekklesia of Christ[xiv] - there was considerable probity and faithfulness, according to historian William Lecky:[xv] “In the first two centuries of the Christian Church, the moral elevation was extremely high, and was continually appealed to as a proof of the divinity of the creed. In the century before the conversion of Constantine, a marked depression was already manifest(ed). The two centuries after Constantine are uniformly represented by the Fathers as a period of general and scandalous vice.”

Identification of the Mark of the Beast: 666

In Revelation 13, extensive information was given to John about several beasts and images, and their identifying marks: the Beast of the Sea (vs. 1); the Dragon which gave power to the Beast (vs. 4); another Beast coming up out of the earth (vs. 11); and an image of the Beast (vs. 14) which was to be “worshipped.” The last three verses of this chapter give the reader a succinct means of determining just WHO some of these characters are:

Revelation 13: 16-17: And he caused all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he who had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

“HERE is wisdom. Let him who hath understanding count the number of the Beast: for it is the number of A MAN; and his number is Six Hundred Threescore and Six.” -- Revelation 13:18

That verse, through many centuries, has perhaps occupied as much of the thoughts and scrutiny of scholars as any in the entire Bible. Yet, determination of its meaning seems fairly straightforward. We now examine some of the pertinent research that has been determined upon this verse.

E. W. Bullinger,[xvi] informs us that the word “count” in Revelation 13:18 is Greek Pephizo, and means “to reckon, to calculate” and not merely to count or enumerate. This can readily be done because, as you probably are aware, “Before the invention (of numerals) by the Arabs, in the tenth century, letters of the alphabet were used for numbers.” [xvii] (Actually the system was invented by the Phoenicians, but popularized by the Arabs.)

Lateinos, or Latinus, was allegedly the founder of the Roman Empire, the legendary father in law of Aeneas, the hero of Troy. A 13th-century description of the “golden city of Rome” entitled the Graphia Auree Urbis Roma, listed the generations from Aeneas back to Noah. The Latin poet Virgil [xviii] (70-19 B. C.) noted the realm of “King Latinus.”

Using the term Lateinos to designate the entirety of the Roman system, we find that the value of the letters in Greek totals six hundred threescore and six!!

L = 50

A = 1

T = 300

E = 5

I = 10

N = 30

O = 70

S = 200

Total: 666

Noted church historian Philip Schaff contends of the Lateinos theory: “This interpretation is the oldest we know of, and is already mentioned by Irenaeus, the first (of) the Fathers who investigated the problem.” [xix]

E. L. Garbett calculated the numerical value of the 3,000 nouns in the Greek New Testament, and discovered that there are only two of these which have a gematrical or numerical value of 666: wealth (euphoria) and tradition (paradosis).[xx] These are extremely closely associated with the Roman Catholic System!!

Now, as to the Roman Catholic system’s being closely identified with the number 666, I’m not sure that a closer association could be found than the following, which to my thinking, is a veritable “clincher” for designating that System as Anti-Christ: please consider this!

The Latin phrase Vicarius Filii Dei means “Vice-regent of the Son of God, or Vicar of the Son of God” (which is the specific title of the Pope of Rome), equals 666, as was first postulated by Andreas Helwig in his book, Roman Antichrist, in 1612 A. D. This is calculated as follows:

V = 5

I = 1

C = 100

A = not a numeral

R = not a numeral

I = 1

U = 5

S = not a numeral

F = not a numeral

I = 1

L = 50

I = 1

I = 1

D = 500

E = not a numeral

I = 1

Total = 666

Although the above are a mere smattering of the available commentary on this subject, I believe these comments to be sufficient to substantiate that the NUMBER of Antichrist given in Revelation 13:18 points the finger of objectivity at the Pope of Rome, the spiritual head of the Roman Catholic Church, whose origins are traceable back to the writings of Paul in his first epistle to the Thessalonians, which was quoted above. It was an apostasy which was already under way, calculated to deceive the very elect of God, and bring them, too, down to perdition!

Corruption of the Whore and Her Daughters

In light of all the above, it is not surprising that the Church strayed very early from its original path of righteousness in several other conceptual areas besides the doctrines of salvation.

Pagan Rome had ruled over the cities and states of the world during her heyday. Her universal law, Pax Romana, spread to the distant extent of her realms. Her currency was universally used and accepted. Trade among her minions was freely carried out. The Latin language was dominant in all legal, social and civic arenas. Her citizens in all the vast holdings of Empire were preferred over the local people who were not free-born Romans. We note that the Apostle Paul appealed to Rome in his prosecution by the Jews, and could readily do so because he was a free-born Roman citizen.

The Pagan Roman Empire lasted many centuries after Paul’s death. One writer[xxi] describes in a paragraph the character and substance of that empire:

“The long peace, the safety of the seas, and the freedom of trade, had made Rome the entrepôt for the peculiar products and delicacies of every land from the British Channel to the Ganges …. Merchandise is brought from every land and sea, everything that every season begets, and every country produces, the products of rivers and lakes, the arts of the Greeks and the barbarians, so that, if anyone were to wish to see all these things, he would either have to visit the whole inhabited world to see them – or to visit Rome; so many great ships arrive from all over the world at every hour, at ever season, that Rome is like some common factory of the world, for you may see such great cargoes from the Indies, or if you wish, from the blessed Arabias, that you might well conjecture that the trees there have been stripped naked; clothing from Babylon, ornaments from the barbarian lands, everything flows to Rome; merchandise, cargoes, the products of the land, the emptying of the mines, the product of every art that is and has been, everything that is begotten and everything that grows. If there is anything you cannot see at Rome, then it is a thing which does not exist and which never existed.”

In a society of such preeminence, and with the Emperor’s protection, the “Christian Church” forged ahead under full steam in its development and expansion throughout the realms of the Empire. Being the official “religion” of Rome, she enjoyed special, protected status from the time of Constantine onward for nearly 1300 years. She quickly and naturally drifted toward the acquisition of temporal wealth and social position that accompanies such a privileged status, invariably in contradiction to the edicts of her Master, the Lord Jesus Christ.

We soon see Papal Rome (and its “Christian Church”) occupying the same position of affluence and place enjoyed by Pagan Rome; they became exactly parallel to her in their venal and unscrupulous practices. Not a few ancient writers published shocking reports of the corruption that overtook the church in a short time. We shall cite quite an additional number of Bill Yake’s researched and validated references to give you a picture of just how the Church viewed its members, its secular rulers, their status as their spiritual mentors, and their own conduct as it related to God and His Son.

“During the papal reigns of Stephen II (A. D. 752-757) and Paul I [who succeeded him] Gregorivius says that an estimated 750 long lines of wagons continually brought large quantities of skulls and skeletal bones to Rome from Campagna, which [these] Popes labeled and exported for sale.”[xxii]

Labeled for sale? What does this mean?

What market could exist for old skulls, and skeletal parts? Especially skeletons which were the last remains of soldiers having fallen in battle and ravaged by wild beasts. Or the contents of shallow graves which were robbed of their corpses to be sold to the Church!

One more question: Have you ever visited the Reliquary of your local Roman Church? You probably have not. But if you should be “privileged” to do so, you would probably find that it contains several carefully preserved bones, pieces of fragile cloth, scant hanks of hair, weathered fragments of wood, ancient jewelry, and other such personal objects. Such items, the Church seriously claims to have either been part of the skeleton, hair, or clothing of a certain “saint;” or a piece of the furniture or other item which that “saint” used during his or her life. There might be a “personal” piece of jewelry (it would be very simple and plain) that he wore, or her rosary … whatever. One of the favorite pieces to be displayed, worldwide, in the Reliquary, is a piece of the “true cross” upon which Christ was crucified!

Would you believe such murky and mysterious objects to be genuine?

I really wonder how many modern Catholics believe them to be genuine artifacts. I wonder how many of them could be so ignorant! But the people of the Dark Ages and the Middle Ages, being almost totally uneducated, were supremely unsophisticated and superstitious. They believed everything in general that the trusted priests and nuns of the Church told them, whether concerning salvation or the relics.

So why were those old bones labeled for sale? They were to be sold to Catholic churches throughout the realm, as “genuine relics” of the “saints!” At the height of this corruption, wrote Edward Burman,[xxiii] “The council of Evreux (A. D. 1195) mentions indulgences being sold by clergy, and bishops selling holy oil and relics; the Council of Avignon (A. D. 1209) cites an example of a priest gambling for penances with dice, and others opening taverns with the clerical collar as an inn sign; nuns organizing parties and wandering in the streets at night. Hunting, gambling and heavy drinking were rife, while those in both male and female religious orders took lovers - as the canons of the Fourth Lateran Council [A. D. 1215] implied by cracking down on such practices. Contact with the East was thought to have introduced the habit of taking concubines amongst the French nobility, and luxuries such as perfumes, silk, ivory, and gold or silver ornaments were considered to encourage covetousness and immorality.”